Rafael Nadal has completed the grand slam of quarter-finals in a season for the first time since 2011 after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4.
The first set saw Basilashvili start well as he served efficiently, not allowing the world number one any opportunity for an early break of serve. The Georgian had improved many aspects of his game over the last 12 months and his powerful forehand was causing Nadal some early trouble. Although the defending champion took a while to create his opportunities, he eventually did find the breakthrough in the eighth game as he started to find ways to force errors.
The Spaniard is the best in the world at serving when the stakes are high and he continued this reputation as he served out the first set in 34 minutes. The defending champion continued to increase his aggression as he started to punish the Georgian for his relaxed tactics. A break at the start of the set was just what Nadal was looking for as momentum was swinging his way.
Despite having break points, the world number 37 wasn’t able to break down the Spaniard as the three time champion pushed for a bigger advantage. The advantage eventually came as another error from Basilashvili sealed a two sets to love lead for Rafael Nadal.
Despite having an early break cancelled out in the third set, the Georgian continued to battle on and use his punishing backhand to great effect. Also he started to construct better points as he was testing Nadal’s determination to get the match finished in straight sets. As the tiebreak approached the Georgian continued to increase his intensity, which helped him to convert his second set point in the tiebreak as he won the third set 7-6(6).
The Spaniard had lost his intensity in the third set but was determined not to make the same mistake in the fourth as he once again sealed an early break. Despite the Georgian’s resilience to break back, the defending champion wasn’t going to accept that as he broke straight back with some punishing groundstrokes. After three plus hours the Spaniard sealed victory over a defiant Basilashvili with an ace.
The win clearly meant a lot to the Spaniard as he acknowledged that he was in a massive battle against the stubborn Georgian. The credit has to go to Basilashvili for the level he produced, which brought the best out of Nadal and the Georgian has clearly improved.
Nadal MP(🎥Eurosport) pic.twitter.com/oAXfOAoNFz
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) September 2, 2018
However it is the Spaniard who moves into the quarter-finals and will now play Dominic Thiem after the Austrian defeated a below par Kevin Anderson 7-5 6-2 7-6(2). Should Nadal beat Thiem in a rematch of their Roland Garros Final contest then he will keep his world number one spot until October at least.
