Rafael Nadal Powers Into Quarter Finals
08 September 2010
0Comments | Comment on this Article
Rafael Nadal proved once again that he is a real force to be reckoned with at this year's U.S. Open he remains unbroken after seeing off compatriot Feliciano Lopez to reach the quarter finals.
The Spaniard is on the hunt for his first U.S. Open crown, a win that would see him become the youngest man to ever complete the career Grand Slam, and with a much improved serve on the hard courts Lopez became just the latest player to fail to break through the defences as Nadal notched up another straight sets win.
Due to a long day session the pair didn't take to the court until 11pm and Nadal didn't want to hang around as he had opened up a 3-0 lead in the first set in just seven minutes.
And while Lopez did have chance to get back on serve at 1-3 down Nadal snuffed out the chance to keep himself ahead. At 5-3 Nadal served for the first set, a chance that he did not let pass him by.
A single break in the next set, which came in the fifth, set was enough for Nadal as Lopez couldn't get back on level terms. Not two sets behind it was an impossible task for Lopez to turn the match around.
Into the third and the first eight games went with serve as the pair were locked together at 4-4. But it was Nadal who pounced first in the ninth game as Lopez Surrendered his serve once again to leave Nadal just one game from victory.
On serve Nadal had triple match point and he wrapped up an impressive display to win 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and secure his place in the quarter finals for the third consecutive year.
Speaking after the match Nadal said: "I think I am playing well, but I am not playing yet at my highest level. I am playing better and better every day and I had to play a little bit better this match.
"To be in quarter-final of the US Open without losing a set and without losing a serve, two things must work really well: the concentration and the serve."
It was an all round good performance from the world number one as he notched up thirty winners and nine aces and his first serve was on song as he won 90% of first serve points.
He will now face another Fernando Verdasco as he came through another all Spanish fourth round clash with David Ferrer. The match went the distance as Verdasco came two sets down to win 5-7, 6-7(8), 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4).
0Comments | Be the first to comment!
