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  • Wimbledon quarterfinal: Rafael Nadal vs. Andy Murray

    7/2/08 12:48 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - This is the big one - all of Britain and most of Spain will be watching Andy Murray continue his run at the All-England Club. Rafael Nadal will be trying to put an end to the Scottish Cinderella's fairy tale.

    Andy Murray's round of 16 match against France's Richard Gasquet was the stuff of legend. Murray was being soundly outplayed by the Frenchman for the better part of three sets. So outplayed, in fact, that Gasquet served for the match in the third. Murray found a way to break Gasquet to level the set, and proceeded to win the tiebreaker. The usually staid Wimbledon crowd thundered with applause, though Murray would still need to pocket the fourth and fifth set. He did, and in so doing, captured the imagination of a nation.

    In stark contrast, Rafael Nadal's round of 16 victory over sometimes nemesis Mikhail Youzhny was largely without drama. The most exciting thing that happened was that Nadal tweaked his knee in the second game of the match and had to call the trainer for more tape. He went on to defeat an exhausted Youzhny 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

    Murray's win was certainly more gripping. The British papers were full of reports of the Scot's triumph, while Nadal's win got a passing mention. Nadal will not be complaining. Murray spent four hours on court to Nadal's two and Murray's fitness, though improved, has not been tested against Rafael Nadal after a marathon match. Nadal has had the better grass court form. The big X-factor in Wednesday's match will be Nadal's knee. He appeared at a late practice on Tuesday with some additional tape on his calf.

    Should Nadal go into this quarterfinal match not at or near 100%, Murray will test him with drop shots. If Nadal is healthy, Murray has his work cut out for him. Murray has been serving around the 50% mark - the Spaniard will punish second serves more than Gasquet ever could. Murray might be able to take a set, but a healthy Nadal will likely prove too much.

    They have played on three occasions; Nadal has won them all. Their first match occurred at the Australian Open. Murray took him to five, but faded in the fifth. Since then, their encounters have been straight set affairs. Expect Wednesday's match to have similar results.

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Comments

VAMOS, RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!

INNA , 7/2/08 10:00 AM


haha well done rafa :-)

RafaNadalGirl20 , 7/2/08 9:41 PM


Yes, that was very VERY impressive from the Spaniard. He's going to be hard to beat.

cherylmurray , 7/2/08 10:26 PM


well nothing is going to stop nadal from getting to final now, i imagine. he is being so impressive through out the tournament. although i believe that he can win, but fed has been so sharp. I am looking foward to both Rafa and fed playing in the final.

rakten , 7/3/08 7:22 AM



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