TENNIS Mutua Madrid Open – Rafa Nadal showed improving form after his two recent quarter final defeats in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona beating Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-1 6-4. Diego Sampaolo
Interviews, results, order of play and draws of the Mutua Madrid Open
Nadal beat Nieminen 6-1 6-4
Rafa Nadal showed improving form after his two recent quarter final defeats in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona beating Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-1 6-4. After dominating the first set Nadal overcame a fight-back from Nieminen who rallied from 1-3 down in the second set. Nadal fended off a break point in the ninth game before breaking serve in the ninth game to seal the win in 80 minutes. Nadal has reached the 63rd Master 1000 quarter final of his career
“I played better than yesterday with more intensity. At 6-1 and 3-0 I was playing atm y best level since Monte-Carlo but then I slowed down and I made some errors. The negative thing is that I had an opportunity to close it out with great feelings and I made a few mistakes in a row. That made the match more complicated. I gave the opportunity to Jarkko to play more aggressive and with more determination.
Nadal will take on Tomas Berdych who rallied from a set down to beat Grigor Dimitrov 3-6 6-3 6-2.
“Grigor started really well. He was serving exceptionally well, playing aggressively. I couldn’t find a way to get into his serving games. Finally I took my first break point in the second set and form that point things changed dramatically. I was happy with the way I handled the match”, said Berdych.
Berdych Part 1 “Grigor started really well. Since I made the (break) point in the second set things changed”
Berdych Part 2 “I don’t do anything special (before I play Nadal). Maybe I should do something different”
