BEIJING: Rafael Nadal’s return to action came to a shuddering halt yesterday when the Spaniard was beaten by Slovakia’s Martin Klizan in a late-night quarter-final duel at the China Open.
After world number one Novak Djokovic had continued his march through the draw to set up a mouth-watering semi-final against Andy Murray, Nadal ran out of steam against the aggressive Klizan, who won 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3 for the biggest scalp of his career.
Nadal, making his return from a wrist injury at the China Open having not played since losing at Wimbledon, seemed to be on course for the semis and a match-up with Czech Tomas Berdych when he edged the first set on a tiebreak. Nadal was then a break ahead in the second set at the scene of his 2008 Olympic gold medal when the match began to turn in favour of 56th-ranked qualifier Klizan.
The Slovak broke Nadal’s serve twice to level the match but the Spaniard forged ahead once again in the decider, leading 3-2 with a break before the match slipped irreversibly out of his grasp. Looking a little weary, Nadal lost his serve to love and with Klizan playing a fearless brand of attacking tennis, the Mallorcan suddenly found himself 5-3 down. Klizan showed no nerves and finished the two hour 37 minute contest with a spectacular smash.
Djokovic maintains perfect record
Earlier, Djokovic extended his winning run on the blue hardcourts of the National Tennis Centre to 22. The Serb targeted the faltering backhand of the fifth seed in the opening set, which he took with breaks in the fourth and eighth games in an improved display after showing signs of rustiness in his opening matches.
Dimitrov showed more fight in the second set, breaking back with a thumping forehand cross court winner only to lose serve in the next game to trail 4-2. He broke again with a stunning backhand winner when Djokovic served at 5-3, but could not capitalise on the opening and crumbled in the following game, ending the match with his third double fault.
Djokovic will now face Murray, who, like Dimitrov, is chasing a place in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals.
Serena pulls out of tournament
Women’s top seed Serena Williams was forced to pull out of the competition through injury, while Maria Sharapova defeated Svetlana Kuznetsova in an all-Russian women’s quarter-final.
American world number one Serena cited a problem in her left knee for handing a walkover to Australian Sam Stosur, who will take on Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the semis after the Czech beat Italian Roberta Vinci 7-6 (7) 6-4. French Open champion Sharapova crushed Kuznetsova 6-0 6-4 in an hour and 24 minutes to set up a semi-final clash with former world number one Ana Ivanovic.
Nishikori, Raonic reach Japan Open semis
Crowd favourite Kei Nishikori and two-time finalist Milos Raonic both recorded straight-sets wins yesterday to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open.
Nishikori, last week’s champion in Kuala Lumpur a fortnight after playing the US Open final, claimed his seventh straight triumph with a 6-4, 6-2 win over France’s Jeremy Chardy.
Canadian third seed Raonic overcame a slow start and needed to win an hour-long first set before beating Uzbek Denis Istomin 7-6 (10/8), 6-3.
Nishikori is bidding to win his home event for the second time in three years.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
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