HOT TENNIS NEWS – RAFAEL NADAL LOOKS TO RIGHT WRONGS AGAINST ITALIAN FABIO FOGNINI

Written by: on 9th October 2015
Tennis China Open
HOT TENNIS NEWS - RAFAEL NADAL LOOKS TO RIGHT WRONGS AGAINST ITALIAN FABIO FOGNINI

epa04969957 Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning his match against Jack Sock of the USA during their quarterfinal match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 09 October 2015. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG  |

Rafael Nadal recovers from a set down against Jack Sock

Rafael Nadal is the first player through to the China Open semi-finals, his first in the past year, after a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Jack Sock on Friday. The No. 3 seed fought back to defeat the World No. 30 in little more than two hours.

The Spaniard hit 10 less winners than Sock’s 29 but was the more consistent of the two. He committed 10 less unforced errors than his opponent’s 35. Nadal said the comeback nature of the victory was what mattered most.

“Obviously I finished the match playing better than what I started. This year I lost a lot of matches when I had an advantage,” Nadal said. “So to have the chance to win a match when I start losing … is important for me.”

Sock claimed his first title in Houston in April, but it has been a dry spell for him against Top 10 opponents in 2015. After defeating Kei Nishikori nearly a year ago in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai he has now lost six straight.

Nadal had beaten the American once before in the fourth round at Roland Garros this year and despite dropping the opening set, found his range in the second set. He saved a break point while serving for the set and went on to level the match when Sock netted a backhand return.

The Spaniard landed a break at 3-all in the decider when Sock shanked a forehand into the stands for 4-3. He would not have to serve it out. He broke Sock on his first match point when the American sent a forehand long.

Jack Sock of the USA in action against Rafael Nadal of Spain during their quarterfinal match in the China Open tennis tournament at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, China, 09 October 2015. EPA/HOW HWEE YOUNG

“I think the first set I was not playing very bad, but I was playing three metres behind the baseline,” Nadal said. “So he was playing with a lot of time, plenty of time to do whatever he wanted with the ball. I think I analysed that well at the right time. I was a little bit closer to the baseline later without losing the court, so he didn’t have all that time to hit his forehand every single time. That was the key, in my opinion, the position on court. I changed that.”

Next up for Nadal is the chance to right some wrongs against Fabio Fognini, whom he has lost to in three of their four meetings this season.

The Italian finished strongly to defeat Pablo Cuevas 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 in 88 minutes and will look to record another victory over Nadal, having rallied from two sets down to shock the Spaniard in five sets at the US Open in their last meeting. He also derailed Nadal in the Rio de Janeiro semi-finals and again on clay in Barcelona. Nadal’s lone victory over Fognini this season came in the Hamburg final.

“He’s a great player,” said Nadal. “When you play against a great player, especially if you don’t play to your best, your chances are lower. If I am able to play my best tomorrow, I am going to have my chances. If not, it is going to be tough. It’s simple. Sport is simple. The winner is the player who plays better. Fognini played better in the three matches that he beat me.

“I was not unhappy at all after the US Open loss. I didn’t play a very bad match. I played okay. He played great. He beat me. Congratulate him and keep going for me.”

The No. 28-ranked Fognini is bidding to reach his third ATP World Tour final of the season after runner-up showings in Rio de Janeiro (l. to Ferrer) and Hamburg.

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link – http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/beijing-2015-friday-nadal-through-to-semi-finals-djokovic-plays-isner )

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