Nadal sets up Ljubicic clash
Source: Agencies |
March 20, 2010, Saturday
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DEFENDING champion Rafael Nadal defeated Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (4) on Thursday to reach the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, in his first tournament since returning from a six-week injury layoff.
Nadal used every inch of the court in beating Berdych for the sixth consecutive time. He mixed topspin with power off the forehand side, slipped in drop shots, and painted the corners with smashes.
"I'm playing a big forehand from baseline and going inside the court, being more aggressive," he said.
Nadal won the final three points of the tiebreaker that ended with Berdych netting a backhand. The Spaniard leaped for joy, trading the snarl he wore through most of the match for a smile.
"I played really well, especially the first set," Nadal said. "The first eight, nine games was an unbelievable level. Later the wind came and it was more difficult to play."
Nadal was hampered by knee injuries last summer that continued into the Australian Open in January, when he was forced to retire in the quarterfinals.
Jelena Jankovic rallied from a 2-4 second-set deficit to beat Russia's Alisa Kleybanova 6-4, 6-4 and reach the women's semifinals.
Jankovic won the final four games of the match, twice breaking Kleybanova, to extend her best showing of the year. Jankovic made the semifinals at Indian Wells in 2008, and went on to finish the year ranked No. 1 in the world.
But she struggled last year, prompting changes. She's pared down her playing schedule, lost weight, and dropped her coach earlier this month.
"I haven't been playing well," she said. "So it's nice to get that feeling back and to be winning again and be in the end of the tournament again."
In the semifinals, Jankovic will play Australian Samantha Stosur, a 6-3, 7-6 (9) winner over Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain.
Stosur has yet to drop a set in four matches, and is projected to crack the top 10 for the first time in the WTA Tour rankings.
No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who also hasn't dropped a set, will meet in the other semifinal.
Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia gave himself an early birthday present by defeating Juan Monaco of Argentina 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday, setting up a semifinal against Nadal. Ljubicic turned 31 yesterday.
"I got a phone call from my brother just after the match. He said that in Croatian time zone I finish just like couple seconds before my birthday, so it's fantastic," he said.
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