Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal makes dream semi-final against Roger Federer perfect
Rafael Nadal followed Roger Federer into the semi-finals of Indian Wells' ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The Spaniard defeated Karen Khachanov in two tiebreak sets.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Mar 15, 2019, 11:59 pm
Khachanov got off to a better start and got his opponent's first serve. Nadal, however, made a quick effort, switching from 1: 3 to 4: 3, but in the tenth game could not use four set balls on serve Khachanov, the Russian equalized to 5: 5. A tie break had to make the decision. And as in the four quick decisions before, Nadal also defended Khachanov in Indian Wells, winning 7-2.
At the beginning of round two, Nadal had the physiotherapist come on the field, got a tape stuck under the right knee - and still managed to break to a 2-1. This time it was the Russian who made the comeback to 3: 3. In the tenth game it was Khachanov who found a set ball - and put an actually playable half volley out.
At 5: 5 the outsider was lucky - at Breakball Nadal a ball dripped from the net into the Spaniard's field, unreachable. Another tie-break had to make the decision - and again Rafael Nadal showed himself to be the better player. After 2:16 a ball Khachanovc landed out, Nadal went off after a 7: 6 (2), 7: 6 (2).
In the first quarter-finals, Roger Federer finally won 6: 4 and 6: 4 against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz. Federer will compete against Nadal on Saturday for the 39th time in an ATP tournament. Dominic Thiem and Milos Raonic play the second semi-final.