Roger Federer bows out to Rafael Nadal in the quarter-final – BNP Paribas Open 2013
Rafael Nadal extended the winning streak to 12 matches on the eve of Thursday when he defeated the 31-year-old Roger Federer during the quarter-final clash of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Last time they met each other,
it was the arena but the semi-final stage in 2011. The 17-time Grand Slam Champion, Federer, ousted the fifth ranked Nadal at that time. However, the tables were turned upon the second ranked Swiss hero on Thursday when the Spaniard posted straight sets 6-4,
6-2 victory to reach the last four.
Both players were playing quite well for the first six games of the match. They met blow-by-blow to each other; capitalized on their serves and didn’t look to be in any sort of trouble. The game was evenly poised at that time and
building up towards something emphatic and as lengthy as a tiresome three-setter. Suddenly, the Swiss superstar faltered on his serve and gifted a breakpoint to his rival who made no mistake at all in converting that opportunity to the turning point of the
match.
Nadal held his serve to make it 5-3 in his favour and almost clinched another breakthrough before the mighty Federer stayed focused to see through the serve game. However, the earlier breakthrough for Nadal helped him to take the
opening set after holding the serve game. It was a quick ending to something which promised a cracking battle.
The 26-year-old took control of the proceedings in the second set right from the word go. He broke serve twice on the trot to take a resounding lead of 3-0. Federer pulled one game and reduced the lead to 3-2 courtesy to the serve
hold but was bamboozled by the fierce power play of the Spaniard who reinstated the three game lead with a winner down the line in the seventh game.
Nadal served for the match and lost just one point before wrapping up a thunderous victory against the guru of tennis. It was the 21st head-to-head victory for the Spaniard who has lost 10 times to the Swiss legend.
Nadal remains the strong contender for the title alongside Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
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