Nadal Gets by Isner to Reach Rome Quarterfinals

May 14, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Rafael Nadal played some of his best tennis of the year on Thursday, as he defeated American John Isner 6-4, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.

The 16th seed Isner entered the match with a streak of 84 consecutive service games with a hold, dating back to his third-round matchup with Nadal in Monte Carlo. It was the Spaniard again who was able to break the big serve of Isner, breaking him in fifth game of the opening set on Thursday.

That break was all he needed as he would go on to take the first set 6-4. He would do the same in the second set, this time scoring the break in the ninth game, and would go on to take the second set by the same score of 6-4.

“I [defended] well from the baseline,” said Nadal. “I played with not many mistakes and tried to go for points when I had the chance. I recovered tough balls, had good movement and a few very good passing shots. That is very good for my confidence, too. In general, I think I played very well.”

In the quarterfinals, Nadal will tangle with eighth-seed Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss beat Austrian Dominic Thiem 7-6(3), 6-4 on Thursday to reach the final eight.

David Ferrer looked exceptionally sharp in his 6-1, 6-3 victory over compatriot Guillermo Garcia-Lopez. Ferrer converted five break points in 11 chances to move past Gacia-Lopez.

He will take on Belgian David Goffin in the quarterfinals. Goffin walked over into the quarters after Andy Murray withdrew due to fatigue.

“I didn’t expect to do what I’ve done the past few weeks,” said Murray, referring to his titles in Munich and Madrid. “My body has never been through that before on clay. It’s a surface I’ve always struggled on physically. My body’s always found the surface difficult. This year, it’s been very good. I also don’t want to risk making it worse.”

Roger Federer struggled a bit at the end of his match against 15th seed Kevin Anderson, but was able to finish of the tall South African 6-3, 7-5 to reach the quarters. The second-seed Federer will play the winner of Fabio Fognini and Tomas Berdych.

In action later, fifth-seed Kei Nishikori will take on Viktor Troicki, while world number one Novak Djokovic battles with Thomaz Bellucci.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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