Rafael Nadal survived Martin Klizan 6-0 7-5 to extend his streak to 42 consecutive sets won and advance to the Semi-Finals in Barcelona.
The Spaniard started off the match in quick fashion as he was aiming to make another statement to the rest of the ATP field. Nadal used some aggressive patterns of play as he proved clinical in the opening set. The Slovakian was unable to gain any offence or killing instinct as he was broken three times and lost the opening set 6-0 in 33 minutes.
However the world number 140 was not to be underestimated especially given his impressive wins over Novak Djokovic and Feliciano Lopez this week. The Slovakian started to produce the type of tennis that saw him in the Quarter-Finals as he broke Nadal at the start of the set.
Klizan was using his full repertoire, which ranged from stunning drop shots to powerful forehands, as Nadal was left second guessing. The world number one kept up with his lower ranked opponent although he couldn’t quite manufacturer break.
The Slovakian had three set points on his own serve to attempt to end Nadal’s streak of sets, however the top seed was having none of it and eventually broke twice to secure four games in a row as well as a spot in the Semi-Finals.
After the match the world number one was relieved to make the last four in Barcelona, “It was a good and quick start from me. Then In the second set everything changed, I played a bad game to start. It was tough moments but I am happy to win in straight sets again.”
The ten time champion will now play fourth seed David Goffin who eventually eased past another Spaniard in Roberto Bautista Agut 6-7(4) 6-2 6-2. Despite a tough opening set the Belgian broke six times in the match to book his place into the Semi-Finals.
In the bottom half of the draw Pablo Carreño Busta stunned second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 7-6(4) to make the last four. The world number 11 matched finesse with power as he took advantage of a weary Bulgarian. However the match wasn’t played in the best spirit as towards the end of the match, Dimitrov felt like the Spaniard distracted him while trying to hit a volley. The footage below shows that the Bulgarian wasn’t the happiest with Carreño Busta with the Bulgarian saying “I will remember this.”
Dimitrov is so wrong here. Pablo showed no signed of stopping the point. He was simply assuming that Dimitrov would end it with a very easy swinging volley. pic.twitter.com/U82gjkeHDM
— Ricky Dimon (@Dimonator) April 27, 2018
Some #drama between Grigor Dimitrov and Pablo Carreno Busta. PCB stopped playing acting like he was going to challenge a serve, and a distracted Dimitrov missed a volley. PCB never challenged, won the point and the match.
Dimitrov "I'll remember this"pic.twitter.com/k9cWDpErrk
— SI Tennis (@SI_Tennis) April 27, 2018
Despite the controversy the Spaniard made it through to the last four where he will play Greek teenager, Stefanos Tsitsipas. The 19 year old dismantled world number 7, Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-2 in what was one of the Austrian’s poorer performances. However Tsitsipas broke four times to seal one of the best victories of his career as he looks to reach his maiden ATP 500 Final tomorrow.
