Thursday, May 8, 2025
spot_img

Nadal toils into Queen’s quarters

Date:

Share post:

spot_imgspot_img

LONDON: Rafael Nadal had to dig deep to reach the quarter-finals at Queen’s with a hard-fought 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 win against Czech veteran Radek Stepanek on Thursday.

Few players have made the switch from clay to grass courts more effectively than Nadal, but the French Open champion is taking a while to find his feet on the lush lawns of west London as he prepares for the defence of his Wimbledon title.

The top seeded Spaniard admits he could do with some time off as he is still drained by his heroics in Paris and the strain showed a little during this inconsistent display.

So far Nadal has struggled to recapture the magical shot-making that dazzled Roger Federer in the French Open final.

He looked comfortable enough in the first set on Thursday and got the only break in the fifth game as a powerful backhand pass left Stepanek rooted to the spot.

The second set seemed to be following a similar pattern when Nadal broke for a 3-1 lead.

This time Stepanek, aided by some sloppy play from Nadal, broke back as the Spaniard served for the match.

Encouraged by that escape, Stepanek took advantage of a series of Nadal double faults to break again and then serve out the set.

At such pressurised moments Nadal usually finds the winning formula.

So it proved in the final set as he finally found some momentum, breaking twice in succession to set up a last eight clash against French fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Meanwhile, world number four Andy Murray ignored the pain of his ankle injury to reach the last eight with a 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) win over Serbian 14th seed Janko Tipsarevic. (Agencies)

spot_imgspot_img

Related articles

Masood Azhar should suffer, not die instantly: Former J&K DGP SP Vaid

Jammu, May 8: Former Jammu & Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) S.P. Vaid said that terrorist attacks...

Bangladesh’s deafening silence: Dhaka walks tightrope as India strikes terror camps in Pakistan

Dhaka, May 8: As tensions soar across South Asia following India’s precision strikes against terror camps in Pakistan...

Any attempt at further escalation will be responded appropriately, India warns Pakistan

New Delhi, May 8: India on Thursday warned Pakistan that any attempt at further escalation of the situation...

India adhered to Indus Waters Treaty for 65 years despite so many provocations from Pakistan: MEA

New Delhi, May 8:  Slamming the disinformation being spread by Pakistan on the suspension of the Indus Waters...