Nadal to face Djokovic in semi-finals
Sunday, 12 August 2007
World number two Rafael Nadal came through an unexpectedly tough battle to beat home favourite Frank Dancevic and reach the Montreal Masters semi-finals, reports BBC.
Nadal fought back in Friday's night match to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 and set up an intriguing semi against Novak Djokovic.
Third seed Djokovic earlier beat Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in the first match between the two top-five players.
The other half of the draw will see top seed Roger Federer take on surprise semi-finalist Radek Stepanek.
Federer looked close to his fluent best as he beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-4 to claim his 10th successive win over the Australian.
The defending champion hit 13 aces as he set up a meeting with unseeded Czech Stepanek, who upset fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 7-5.
Nadal recovered from losing the first set to win against Dancevic, who was aiming to become the first home player into the Canadian semi-finals since 1969.
The Spaniard found his range in the second set to save seven break points as Dancevic needed treatment for a back problem.
But the French Open champion took control in the third set to claim victory.
"It was a beautiful match, he played very well," said Nadal. "It was tough for me out there.''
"He played unbelievable, aggressive tennis. I knew that today was a very difficult match because he was playing such unbelievable tennis and he had such big support."
Hewitt broke Federer in the second set - the first time he has been broken all week - to level it at 2-2.
But Federer pressured the Aussie into a key forehand error in the seventh game.
"Maybe the score looked like I was pretty much in control but if you look at the first set, it took 45 minutes," said Federer.
"We had our chances but it went my way in the end because I served well in the important moments,'' he said.
"I was just more consistent from the baseline and my forehand was great today," he said.
Nadal fought back in Friday's night match to win 4-6 6-2 6-3 and set up an intriguing semi against Novak Djokovic.
Third seed Djokovic earlier beat Andy Roddick 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 in the first match between the two top-five players.
The other half of the draw will see top seed Roger Federer take on surprise semi-finalist Radek Stepanek.
Federer looked close to his fluent best as he beat Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 6-4 to claim his 10th successive win over the Australian.
The defending champion hit 13 aces as he set up a meeting with unseeded Czech Stepanek, who upset fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko 6-4 7-5.
Nadal recovered from losing the first set to win against Dancevic, who was aiming to become the first home player into the Canadian semi-finals since 1969.
The Spaniard found his range in the second set to save seven break points as Dancevic needed treatment for a back problem.
But the French Open champion took control in the third set to claim victory.
"It was a beautiful match, he played very well," said Nadal. "It was tough for me out there.''
"He played unbelievable, aggressive tennis. I knew that today was a very difficult match because he was playing such unbelievable tennis and he had such big support."
Hewitt broke Federer in the second set - the first time he has been broken all week - to level it at 2-2.
But Federer pressured the Aussie into a key forehand error in the seventh game.
"Maybe the score looked like I was pretty much in control but if you look at the first set, it took 45 minutes," said Federer.
"We had our chances but it went my way in the end because I served well in the important moments,'' he said.
"I was just more consistent from the baseline and my forehand was great today," he said.