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6/9/11 10:47 PM | Ricky Dimon
Rafael Nadal needs three sets to oust Radek Stepanek on Thursday afternoon in London. Nadal advances to the quarterfinals for a showdown with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Rafael Nadal squandered two match points for what would have been a routine straight-set victory, but he eventually bounced back to defeat Radek Stepanek 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 in the third round of the AEGON Championships on Thursday. Nadal saved 13 of 16 break points and reached the quarterfinals after two hours and 24 minutes.
The top-ranked Spaniard took early control by breaking with ease in the fifth game of the match for a 3-2 lead. He had to fight off three break points one game later in order to consolidate the advantage, but he did not face any additional trouble in the first set. One more break at 5-3 allowed Nadal to finish off the opening frame of play in style.
Nadal appeared to be on his way to a straightforward win when he added his third break of the day for a 3-1 lead in set two. The No. 1 seed at Queen's Club extended the margin to 5-2 with a pair of holds before serving for the match at 5-3. At that point Nadal raced to 40-15 for two match points, but he missed both of the chances and went on to drop serve in stunning fashion.
A streak of five straight games saw Stepanek steal the set, as the underdog seized a second break at 5-5 thanks primarily to a breakdown in his opponent's forehand. The veteran Czech made no mistake with the set on his racket in the 12th game, forcing a decisive third set with a winning volley.
In the French Open final four days earlier, Nadal recovered from a third-set hiccup to put away Roger Federer easily in the fourth. He did similar work in this one, quickly regaining the momentum by breaking immediately for a 2-0 lead with a winning forehand. Nadal persevered through two difficult service games then struck again for a break at 4-1 before finally enjoying a routine hold in the last game of the match.
"Much better than yesterday," Nadal said, comparing his level to what he displayed in a 6-4, 6-4 win over Matthew Ebden in round two. "I was playing a very complete match, but I think at 5-3, 40-15 he played well. I had a few mistakes and that was the turning point of the match at that moment. Beginning of the third, especially the first game was tough, but after that I think I played my best."
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16 break points on grass is pretty bad...
Did Stepanek play amazing or are Nadal's doubts creeping up again?
Shireling , 6/10/11 11:55 AM
nadal should be very tired, so no worries or doubts i would say. if he loses to tsonga, it would only do him good. he will still win wimbledon.
croc , 6/10/11 12:48 PM
Shireling, it wasn't that Stepanek was playing threatening Rafa, the break points were concentrated in three games max. I was impressed with the way Rafa played because, let's face it, Stepanek is a very determined experienced player.
nadline , 6/10/11 1:19 PM
Please dont read anything into this Queens tourney...................Nadal will win Wimby!!!
Monalysa , 6/10/11 1:47 PM
Monalysa
, 6/10/11 1:47 PM
My sentimements excactly...............in fact, I want him to lose to Tsonga, play one more doubles match to finesse his net play and then go home and rest.........
rafaisthebest , 6/10/11 2:35 PM
Maybe Rafa is tired of practicing hard as he always does (I read somewhere that his usual practice is never less than 2 hours and with extremely high intensity) and just wants to rest by playing competitive matches...:))
natashao , 6/10/11 2:48 PM
Rafans........when the Wimby draw comes out, do not worry about which side Fed or Andy land on because if Rafa gets to the semis, he will get into the final and if Rafa is in the final, he will win!!
The first quarter in the draw is the one to lookout for................the people you do not want hanging around Rafa's quarter: Isner, Stepanek, Anderson and Llodra...............they have the game to cause Rafa all sorts of grief.......
rafaisthebest , 6/10/11 2:55 PM
Isner certainly could be a problem but I think it's one that Rafa can solve as long as he gets rid of his nerves. The others I don't believe can trouble Rafa. When Stepanek took the 2nd set yesterday, due purely to Rafa's bad serving, Rafa just had to play up one gear to take the match easily in the 3rd. Llodra and Anderson have a big serve but not enough to trouble Rafa.
I certainly don't want to see Dr Ivo or Isner on his side of the draw. Fed or Andy. M, six of one and half a dozen of the other.
nadline , 6/10/11 3:02 PM
The Match Previews on Queens has dried up.
Rafa's still has to finish a doubles match today and also play the next round if they win. I wonder if he'll pull out of the doubles.
nadline , 6/10/11 5:51 PM
I think Rafa should just pull out of Queens now. The weather is messing the whole thing up and he's got his feel of grass now so he should go home and rest before Wimbledon.
nadline , 6/10/11 5:59 PM
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"In the French Open final..." Nadal put away Roger easily in the FOURTH set, not the third, where Roger "put away" Nadal with some difficulty. :)
Ramara , 6/10/11 3:24 AM