Nadal, Djokovic on course for Masters final
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, October 12, 2013
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Spain's Rafael Nadal returns to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka en route to his 7-6 (10), 6-1 quarterfinal victory at the Shanghai Rolex Masters last night. |
Rafael Nadal survived a fierce assault from Stanislas Wawrinka to reach the Shanghai Rolex Masters semifinals last night, staying on course for a potential title match against Novak Djokovic, who recovered from a set down to also claim victory.
World No. 1 Nadal was pushed to the limit by Wawrinka in a close first set, but the relentless Spaniard came out on top in a gripping tie-break lasting more than 20 minutes. It was one-way traffic in the second set as he prevailed 7-6 (10), 6-1.
Nadal, who has won 10 titles — including the French Open and US Open — this year and regained the No. 1 ranking this week, is chasing a record sixth Masters title in a single season
Top seed Djokovic kept his side of the bargain under floodlights at the Qizhong Tennis Center, withstanding a feisty challenge from Frenchman Gael Monfils to win 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4.
Elsewhere in last-eight action, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro breezed through their matches in straight sets as they hunt berths at next month's elite ATP World Tour Finals in London.
Seventh seed Tsonga beat 50th-ranked Florian Mayer of Germany 6-2, 6-3 in just 64 minutes while sixth seed Del Potro, fresh from winning the Japan Open, fired 27 winners in a routine 6-3, 6-3 win against Spain's Nicolas Almagro, the 15th seed.
The Argentine can clinch a berth in the year-end championships by making the final.
Earlier, Monfils and Djokovic swapped two service breaks each before the match settled into a more regular groove, going to a tie-break won by the Frenchman when the top seed went long with a backhand.
But Monfils, cutting an imposing figure in his bright orange top with a shock of dark hair, let his intensity slip at the start of the set and Djokovic immediately seized the initiative with a break.
A time violation against Monfils rattled the Frenchman, who became embroiled in an argument with the umpire and was soon flat on his back receiving treatment on his abdominal muscles as the set slipped away from him.
Monfils, who conquered Roger Federer in the previous round, re-discovered his mojo at the start of the decider, rattling Djokovic. But it was the Serb who made the crucial break, letting out a roar of triumph before going on to seal the match after an absorbing two hours and 22 minutes.
"Inexplicably I started serving quite badly, but not many unforced errors," said Djokovic. "It happens. I mean, I was preparing for this match as well as I prepare for every other. It's just sometimes that you start off slowly and you're not feeling the ball as much."
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