Rafael Nadal dismisses Gilles Muller to enter quarterfinals – US Open 2011
World number 2 and defending champion Rafael Nadal restarted strongly from the overnight score of 0-3 and defeated Luxembourger Gilles Muller, ranked 68th in the world, in straight sets 7-6(1), 6-1, 6-2 in the round
of 16 of US Open at the Flushing Meadows in New York on Thursday. Nadal took two hours and eight minutes to win the contest.
Nadal and Muller restarted from the overnight score of 0-3 with the Luxembourger having an advantage of a break of serve. The Spaniard broke back in the seventh game and won his following service game to square off the score at
4-4. Nadal and the Luxembourger held their serve in the next four games to take the score to 6-6 and forced a tie-break. Nadal claimed two early mini-breaks to grab a 4-0 lead and bagged another mini-break later, capitalising on the triple mini-breaks and
winning the tie-break 7-1.
After winning a tough opening set, Nadal dominated the second set from its beginning as he broke the Luxembourger in the second and fourth game, holding his three service game to build a 5-0 lead. Muller avoided a bagel set as
he succeeded in holding his serve in the sixth game to open his account but he could not break the Spaniard in the next game, dropping the set 1-6.
Muller looked to give the second seed a tough time as he made a good start in the final set. The Luxembourger held his opening service game and broke Nadal in the second game to grab a 2-0 lead. However, it was all Rafa show after
that as he did not lose even a single game, breaking Muller three times and claiming six games in a row to seal the set 6-0.
Talking to the reporters after tha match, Nadal said, ‘It's best of five. Playing against Muller, he has fantastic serve, so I know I can go on court and lose the first set. That's the normal thing. But I go on court, try my best
every moment and try to produce any opportunity to have the break back. I did."
The left-handed will take on 2003 champion and 21st seed Andy Roddick of USA in the quarterfinals.
Nadal said, commenting on his opponent in the next match, "Andy is a fantastic player. He's having one of the best careers, being among the top players for, I don't know, 11 years, 10 years, nine years. That's a lot. That's amazing.
So I have big respect for Andy, especially he's very tough to be there for a long time and he did.”
The Spaniard enjoys a 6-3 head-to-head lead against the American star.
Tags: