2011 Sony Ericsson Open: Rafael Nadal vs. Tomas Berdych – Preview
World number one Rafael Nadal of Spain faces world number seven Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the quarter-finals of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami on Thursday.
This will be the 13th meeting between Nadal and Berdych. The Spanish leads Berdych 9-3 in the head-to-head record. The 24-year-old has won the last 8 meetings between these two, clinching all of the 8 matches in straight
sets.
The Spaniard and Berdych met three times in 2010. Nadal defeated the Czech in straight sets 7-6(3), 6-1 when the pair met for the last time in the round robin match at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Spaniard did not allow
Berdych to win his first grand slam title as he defeated the Czech 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 in the final at the Wimbledon. Nadal overpowered Berdych in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(4) in the quarter-finals at the BNP Paribas Open.
However, the Czech dominated their earlier meetings, winning 3 of the first 4 matches played between them. Berdych beat the Spaniard in three sets 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-6(3) in the round of 64 at the Western and Southern Open in 2005.
The 25-year-old came back from one set deficit to defeat Nadal in three sets 6-7(4), 6-2, 7-6(3) at the Rogers Cup in 2006. Few months later, Berdych recorded his third straight win over the Spaniard, knocking him out in straight sets 6-3, 7-6(6) in the quarter-finals
at the Mutua Madrid Open.
Talking about his match against Berdych, Nadal said, "Difficult match always. We know each other. We played a lot of times, and I know if I play my best tennis I'm going to have chances against him. He can play very, very good,
and I have to play very solid all the time with my serve and wait a chance on the return."
Nadal is in good touch as he has reached the last eight without dropping a set at the Sony Ericsson Open. The Spaniard has not dropped his serve in the first three matches at this championship. The top seed crushed Alexandr Dolgopolov
of Ukraine 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round. He defeated compatriot Feliciano Lopez in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 32. In his opening match at this championship, the Spanish cruised past Kei Nishikori of Japan in straight sets 6-4, 6-4.
On the other hand, Berdych won some tough matches on the road to quarter-finals. The Czech battled past Florian Mayer of Germany in three sets 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(4) in the fourth round. In his first match, the right handed prevailed
over Spanish Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-0.
The winner of this match will play either world number three, Swiss Maestro Roger Federer or French Gilles Simon, ranked 27th in the world, in the semi-finals.
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