RAFAEL NADAL CRUISES AGAIN IN RIO, SETS UP SHOWDOWN AGAINST A SCORCHING-HOT CUEVAS

Written by: Staff on 20th February 2015

RAFAEL NADAL CRUISES AGAIN IN RIO, SETS UP SHOWDOWN AGAINST A SCORCHING-HOT CUEVAS

epa04628189 Spanish Rafael Nadal returns a ball against his compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, during their Rio Open Tennis 2015 tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 19 February 2015. EPA/Marcelo SayÃ£o |

Nadal cruises again in Rio, sets up showdown against a scorching-hot Cuevas

By Ricky Dimon

Rafael Nadal continued his trek through the Rio Open draw when he took care of Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3 during second-round action on Thursday. Nadal saved both of the break points he faced in the second set to finish the job in two hours and one minute.

A back-and-forth opening frame of play saw Carreno Busta break for a 3-2 lead before eventually saving three set points to hold for 5-5. Nadal finally sealed the set with a break at 6-5 before taking care of the second more comfortably.

“[I’m] just trying to play my best [on] every single point,” the third-ranked Spaniard explained. “A little bit up and down, but I found a way to be through to a quarterfinal. I’m happy for that. I think he played well; he played aggressive. I’m happy the way that I played.”

Uruguayan Pablo Cuevas hits a return to Italian Luca Vanni in the final match of ATP 250 Brazil Open at Ibirapuera gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, 15 February 2015. EPA/Ricardo Nogueira

Up next for Nadal is an opponent who must be positively thrilled with the way he is playing right now. Whereas Nadal is 7-0 in seven matches in Rio (he won the title last year), Pablo Cuevas is 7-0 in his last seven matches overall. The 23rd-ranked Uruguayan triumphed last week in Sao Paulo and so far this week has defeated Nicolas Almagro and Albert Montanes.

“It is going to be the first time I face him,” Cuevas said of Nadal. “I am in a good moment. I will try to enjoy the match and continue to play the same as I been doing and I wish I can continue with the streak.”

One streak will continue on Friday. Unfortunately for Cuevas, it will almost certainly be Nadal’s in Rio.

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

Topics: Pablo Carreno-Busta, Pablo Cuevas, Rafa, Ricky Dimon, Rio Open, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

February 20, 2015 at 8:57 am

-@RafaelNadal CRUISES AGAIN IN #RioOpen, SETS UP SHOWDOWN AGAINST A SCORCHING-HOT @PabloCuevas22- http://t.co/NmB03WWpDN #tennis #Nadal #ATP