TENNIS – Rafael Nadal beat his compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4 6-3 to qualify for the Mutua Madrid Open final where he will be chasing his fourth title at the Magic Box after his previous triumphs in 2005, 2010 and 2013 and his 27th Master 1000 final. Nadal will face Kei Nishikori who won a hard-fought match against David Ferrer in straight sets with 7-6 5-7 6-3. Diego Sampaolo
Interviews, results, order of play and draws of the Mutua Madrid Open
Nadal has bounced back from a difficult start to his clay season where he failed to get through the quarter final at both Mote-Carlo and Barcelona. This week Nadal showed improving form reaching the final without dropping a set.
Bautista Agut, who played his first ever Master 1000 semifinal, recovered from a break down in the sixth game to draw level to 3-all before Nadal broke serve in the next game en route to winning the first set with 6-4.
Nadal cruised to a 4-0 40-15 lead on Bautista Agut’s serve and had a ball to go up 5-0. Nadal committed an error at deuce at 4-1. Agut clawed his way back into the match winning three games in a row with a break-back. Nadal recovered winning the final two games to clinch the win and his 90th career final. At 4-3 the Mallorcan legend broke again with a passing shot.
“Bautista Agut is a really dangerous opponent today. He has had great victories this year. It is an important win for me. To be in a final in a difficult tournament at home after losing in the quarter finals for two weeks in a row means a lot to me. So I am very happy”, said Nadal.
“In Monte-Carlo and Barcelona, whenever I had difficult moments, I was not ready and I was a bit down. I managed to be ready straightaway. In the second set I had a ball to go up 5-0 and he played well and then I committed an error at deuce when it was 4-1. I responded well at 4-3. I managed to serve well and play a good passing shot and to break again”.
Nadal: “After I think a great match yesterday, have the confirmation today that the improvement is real”
Nishikori beats Ferrer 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3
Kei Nishikori converted his 10th match point to win a hard fought three-set semifinal against David Ferrer with the scoreline of 7-6(5) 5-7 6-3 in 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Nishikori will be chasing his second back-to-back win on Spanish clay after his triumph in Barcelona two weeks ago. With this win Nishikori becomes the first Japanese player to break the top-10 Ranking.
After Nishikori clinched the first set at the tie-break, Ferrer fended off his first match point in the 10th game with an ace before converting his fifth break point chance in the 11th game. Ferrer fended off two break points before forcing the match to the third set.
After needing treatment on his right thigh at the start of the third set, Nishikori got a crucial break in the sixth game before a hard-fought ninth game which lasted 20 minutes in which Nishikori clinched the win on his 10th match point. Nishikori scored his 14th consecutive win and his 10th win on clay
Nishikori had already beaten Ferrer last March in Miami where he won in three sets with 7-6 (9-7) 2-6 7-6 (11-9) after saving four match points.
Nadal starts as the favourite in the final as he won all their previous six head-to-head matches including a fourth round win at the Australian Open.. Nishikori won just one set in all these matches but he is now in very good form and could pose a threat to Nadal.
