RAFA (RAFAEL) NADAL CHANGES SHORTS ON COURT & WINS IN HUMID RIO @ 3 IN THE MORNING & DONALD YOUNG JR. INTO SEMIS IN DELRAY

Written by: Staff on 21st February 2015

RAFA (RAFAEL) NADAL CHANGES SHORTS ON COURT & WINS IN HUMID RIO @ 3 IN THE MORNING & DONALD YOUNG JR. INTO SEMIS IN DELRAY

epa04630001 Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay during their match of the 2015 Rio Open tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 February 2015. EPA/MARCELO SAYAO |

Cuevas’ hot streak ends vs. Nadal, Young’s run continues in Delray Beach

By Ricky Dimon

All four quarterfinal matches went the three-set distance on Friday at the Rio Open and the result was nearly the latest finish in ATP tournament history. Rafael Nadal and Pablo Cuevas did not even get on the court until after 1:00 a.m. because Fabio Fognini’s 6-4, 6-7(10), 7-6(9) victory over Federico Delbonis lasted three hours and 12 minutes.

It could have went even later, but Nadal took complete control after dropping the first set as he raced away from last week’s Sao Paulo champion for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-0 win.

Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their match of the 2015 Rio Open tennis tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 20 February 2015. EPA/MARCELO SAYAO

“It was a complicated match,” the top-seeded Spaniard assured. “I knew I was going to play against a player who won Sao Paulo, who’s playing well, who came here with confidence, and that’s how it was.

“In the second set I felt better. I felt better control in the match even though I could not break him until 6-5. I’m happy because this was an important victory for me. It’s a great result, it gives me points, confidence and the opportunity to play [on Saturday]. I hope I’m recovered.”

Whereas Cuevas’ seven-match winning streak came to end, Donald Young’s fine form continued at the Delray Beach Open. Also a semifinalist last week in Memphis, Young booked his spot in the Delray semis by upsetting No. 3 seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

The 56th-ranked American faced–and saved–only one break point over the course of the final two sets.

“I thought I fought well,” said Young. “I didn’t start off the way I wanted to. He was playing pretty well, hitting through the wind and controlling his shots quite good. I decided to buckle down, fight, go out swinging and got a little more not so conservative and it happened to work.

Donald Young of the US hits a return shot to Denis Kudla of the US in their second round Memphis Open tennis match at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 12 February 2015. EPA/TANNEN MAURY

“I feel good. Hopefully it’s not over yet… I’m enjoying it, and I’m going to ride the wave. Hopefully this is not the end and there can be some more.”

Up next for Young is Bernard Tomic, whom he just defeated in Memphis.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Editors Note : re RAFA — A big story coming and a photo gallery. The team is hard at work here. Rafa actually put his shorts on backwards for a game. His Nike logo was on rear. Based on how often Rafa tugs at his rear end maybe Nike can get more advertising there ? LJ

Topics: Delray Beach Open, Donald Young jr, Pablo Cuevas, Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Rio Open, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

February 21, 2015 at 11:10 am

-@RafaelNadal CHANGES SHORTS ON COURT & WINS IN HUMID RIO @ 3 IN THE MORNING & DONALD YOUNG JR. INTO SEMIS IN #DELRAY http://t.co/sozhBaRXGX