By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, October 28, 2015
A resurgent Rafael Nadal won six of the last seven games outdueling Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, to advance to the Basel quarterfinals.
Photo credit: Reuters
Surrendering serve to start all three sets today, Rafael Nadal was forced to fight off the ropes in Basel.
The strong-willed Nadal answered with a baseline knockdown and a stubborn final stand to complete another comeback.
Video: Federer, Feather Duster
A resurgent Nadal won six of the final seven games surging past Grigor Dimitrov, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, to reach the Swiss Indoors' quarterfinals for the second straight year.
It was another streaky match and rousing comeback from Nadal, who roared back from a 6-1, 5-3 deficit defeating Lukas Rosol 1-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in a testy clash on Monday.
Winless in six prior clashes with the former world No. 1, Dimitrov didn't exert much energy breaking in the opening game. Nadal sliced a backhand wide then netted a high backhand donating the break.
The Bulgarian made magic with a wave of his hand in the fourth game.
Drawing Nadal forward with a dipping drop shot, Dimitrov danced back along the sideline, held his shot for a moment then wristed a sweet backhand flick lob winner into the corner. The shot showcased Dimitrov's shot-making creativity and slick racquet skills, sealing a quick hold for 3-1.
Dimitrov tried working over Nadal's backhand, but the Spaniard used that shot to break back. Without an angle to work with, Nadal bolted a backhand right at Dimitrov, who could not control his volley reply, for break point. The lefthander slid a drop shot breaking back for 4-all.
Stamping his second straight love hold, Nadal consolidated for 5-4.
Three factors conspired to cost Dimitrov the set: He lost his nerve, he couldn't land his first serve and Nadal made him play. Successive errors from Dimitrov, who served just 34 percent in the opener, gave Nadal his fourth straight game and a one-set lead after 43 minutes.
Regaining the depth on his drives, Dimitrov pasted a forehand off the baseline breaking to open the second set to spark a four-game run of his own.
The third seed was his own worst enemy in the third game. Nadal coughed up three forehand errors before netting backhand drop shot in an implosion of a game that saw him gift another break and 3-0 lead to his opponent.
Dimitrov didn't exactly embrace his good fortune when he double-faulted away one break in the sixth game. Playing bolder tennis from behind, Nadal threw down a love hold for 3-4.
Drilling a forehand down the line, Dimitrov earned three set points. Nadal saved the first two but ballooned a return off a second serve well long as Dimitrov took a set from the Spaniard for the first time since the 2014 Australian Open quarterfinals. Dimitrov served 73 percent in the 45-minute second set.
A bathroom break preceded the decider, but Nadal couldn't find his groove when he got back on court. A looping forehand floated followed by his second double fault capped a horrid game as Nadal surrendered serve in the opener for the third straight time.
Working through a 30-all test, Dimitrov delivered an ace and forehand winner for 2-0.
Throughout the match, Nadal played his boldest tennis from behind.
A shanked return from Nadal dropped in and Dimitrov, who lacked complete commitment to the shot, put a bounce smash into net as Nadal broke back for 2-all.
Playing high and deep to Dimitrov's one-handed backhand Nadal earned two break points, but the Bulgarian weathered the threat navigating a seven-and-a-half minute game for 3-all.
In the eighth game, Nadal knocked Dimitrov down onto the seat of his shots with a backhand into the body that set up a forehand pass for break point. When Dimitrov's backhand failed him, Nadal had his fifth break for 5-3.
Still, it was a challenging close. Nadal saved two break points with an inside-out forehand and a smash before ending a two hour, 12-minute test drilling a diagonal forehand.
The 14-time Grand Slam champion will play either 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic or Teymuraz Gabashvili for a place in the semifinals.