TENNIS ATP BEIJING – Rafael Nadal battled past German Peter Gojowczyk with 6-3 6-4, a score which does not really reflect how the match developed especially during a hard-fought second set. Nadal failed to convert on nine of his eleven break point chances and had to fend off three break points in the final game before closing out for the win. Diego Sampaolo
The final score would suggest a smooth match for Nadal but the Spanish player had to struggle against the German in the second set but finally managed to take the win in straight sets. Nadal won the first set easily breaking serve after rallying from 0-40 at 3-2 in the sixth game. Nadal, China Open champion in 2005, did not face any problems on his serve until the 10th game of the second set. After two very long games Nadal finally managed to get the decisive break and win the match despite a very tough final game. At 5-4 he faced three first break points but he saved them with his serve to take the win. Nadal won 85 percent of his first service points during the match.
Nadal qualified for his first quarter finals since he clinched his ninth title at the Roland Garros.
“My serve worked well today but I need more rhythm on the legs, more rhythm on my my shots. I am playing okay, trying not to miss a lot, trying to play with not too many risks”, said Nadal.
In the quarter final Rafa will take on Martin Klizan against whom he dropped a set at Wimbledon. Klizan was leading 6-2 3-0 against Ernests Gulbis when the Latvian player withdrew from the match because of a shoulder injury.
Andy Murray broke serve five times to take a 6-2 6-2 win over Pablo Cuevas from Uruguay to set up an exciting quarter final against Marin Cilic. This year’s US Open champion broke once in the first set and got a double break in the second for a 6-3 6-3 over Joao Sousa.
Murray cruised to a 4-0 lead in the first set. He fended off two break point chances in the seventh game before wrapping up the first set. He hit a forehand to get a break at the start of the second set en route to cruising to a 4-0 lead. Cuevas broke back but Murray got an immediate break before Cuevas hit a forehand into the net.
Novak Djokovic will face Grigor Dimitrov in the most interesting quarter final of the China Open. The Bulgarian beat Pablo Andujar with a double 6-4.
