Nadal, Federer struggle for wins

Top duo fight to reach Qatar Open quarters.

DOHA: Roger Federer and fever-hit Rafael Nadal both had to fight their way out of trouble before reaching the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.

Federer needed to recover from 4-5 down in the first set tie-breaker and from a break of serve down at 1-4 in the second against Swiss compatriot, and childhood friend, Marco Chiudinelli, ranked 117 in the world, before coming through 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

World number one Nadal had to survive a tight first set and the loss of his first love set in nearly two years before overcoming the inspired hitting of Lukas Lacko, the world number 83 from Slovakia, by 7-6 (7/3), 0-6, 6-3.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2011.