Rafael Nadal prevails over David Nalbandian to advance to the last-four – BNP Paribas Open 2012
World number two, Rafael Nadal, remained on course to win his first title of the season, as he battled past former world number three, David Nalbandian, in three sets 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the quarterfinals at the BNP Paribas Open in
Indian Wells, USA on Friday.
The Spaniard took two hours and 39 minutes to beat Nalbandian and reached his seventh straight semi-final at this event.
Nadal and Nalbandian clinched their serve convincingly in the first nine games to take the score to 5-4 in the latter’s favour. The Argentinean finally made the breakthrough and captured it 6-4.
Ranked 74th in the world, Nalbandian pocketed 12 of the 17 first and 10 of the 15 second serve points. The Argentinean put away the only break threat he faced and availed the one opportunity he got in the opener.
Both players remained strong on their serves in the second set, holding in the first 10 games to square off the score at 5-5. Nadal snatched a break in the 11th and capitalised on it, sealing the set 7-5.
Nadal banged in a single ace and 78 percent of the first serves, converting 21 of the 18 of them into points. On the other hand, Nalbandian hit a single ace and two double faults.
The Spaniard had the momentum on his side after grabbing the second set. He struck in the very first game of the decider and capitalised on it to move ahead 2-0. Nadal broke again in the seventh, getting the chance to serve out
the set at 5-2. However, the Spaniard could not do so and Nalbandian reduced the trail to 4-5. Nadal succeeded in serving out the set in the tenth game, bagging it 6-4.
The 25-year-old said, commenting on the match, “Couple mistakes by him, and I played a good game with at 6-5 to close the second set. It was a change. I think I started the third well. He looked a little bit more tired, but the
end of the match was close again. With the 5-4 and 15/40 the match was there, very close, and anything can happen.”
Nadal will lock horns with his arch rival, Roger Federer, for a place in the title match.
The Spaniard said, “Playing against Roger always means a little bit more than against the rest of the opponents because I am playing probably against the best of the history, and because I played probably the most important matches
of my career against him and probably him against me.”
This will be the 28th meeting between these two. Nadal enjoys an 18-9 lead against Federer in the head to head record.
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