By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 7, 2016
Rafael Nadal blew a break lead in both the second and third sets, but stayed focused to edge Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, and reach the Doha semifinals.
Photo credit: Qatar Tennis Federation
The sight of Andrey Kuznetsov ripping another return down the line left Rafael Nadal casting a concerned glance toward his support box.
Nadal squandered a break lead in both the second and third sets and absorbed 40 winners from his explosive opponent. Ultimately, Nadal stared down the challenge with some timely forehand strikes of his own.
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Playing a clean deciding set, Nadal outdueled Kuznetsov, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, in an entertaining shoot-out to advance to the Doha semifinals for the fifth time.
"It was a very tough match," said Nadal, who finished with 22 winners and 22 unforced errors. "He played so crazy, some amazing shots. It was so difficult to be in control of the match. He was playing great and if he plays like this he will have a great season. For me it's great to start in the first semifinals of the year."
The 24-year-old Kuznetsov is ranked No. 79, but he performed like a Top 20 player for long stretches of this match, even when he struggled to land his first serve.
Stepping into the court, Nadal slashed a forehand down the line for break point. Kuznetsov overhit a crosscourt backhand surrendering serve and a 2-0 lead. Nadal slid the first ace of the match out wide, backing up the break for a 3-0 lead.
The second-seeded Spaniard was not as sharp throughout today's opening set as he was during his straight-sets demolition of Robin Haase yesterday.
Holding a 15-30 lead in the sixth game, Nadal clanked three straight mis-hit forehands, shaking his head after sailing a return long as Kuznetsov held for 2-4. In his opponent's next service game, Nadal had a good look at an inside-out forehand on his second set point, but slapped a routine shot into net.
Serving for the set, Nadal cleaned up his act. Down 0-30, he hit a pair of body serves to draw even. On set point number three, Nadal swooped forward and angled off a sharp backhand volley closing the 36-minute first set in style.
Kuznetsov cranked up the pace of his drives to start the second. Playing with bold aggression, the lanky Russian reeled off 11 of the first 15 points breaking at love on another shanked Nadal forehand to forge a 3-1 lead.
A mental mistake cost Kuznetsov the break in the next game. He declined to challenge an out call. Replay showed his shot touched the baseline. Instead of a 30-0 lead, it was 15-all. Kuznetsov compounded the error with a double fault and when Nadal ripped a forehand pass that rattled the Russian's Wilson Blade, he had the break back.
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Lasooing a twisting forehand winner down the line, Nadal gained double-break point in the seventh game. Measuring his forehand, Nadal ended a 16-shot rally ripping another forehand drive down the line breaking for the second straight time for 4-3. If it seemed the former world No. 1 was in control, Kuznetsov had other ideas.
He couldn't manage a low forehand, finding the net and a triple break point hole. When Nadal floated a forehand deep, Kuznetsov earned his second love break to level.
Despite struggling to find his first serve, Kuznetsov navigated a challenging game, curling an ace to hold for 6-5.
Successive return winners down the line put followed by smooth backhand drop shot gave Kuznetsov set point. Playing his forehand exclusively to his opponent's two-hander, Nadal paid a price for predictability. Kuznetsov cracked his 19th winner breaking for the third time to take the 53-minute set and force a decider.
Both men lifted their level producing a high-quality third set as each took turns dictating some pulsating rallies. Nadal thumped one of his fastest serves of the match, holding at love for 3-all.
All the good work Kuznetsov did wasn't enough against a clean-striking Nadal, who altered the height and pace of his shots. Kuznetsov missed a backhand and spit a double fault into net donating the break and a 4-3 advantage.
"I think the most important thing was the mental part," Nadal said. "After losing the opportunity in the second set to be able to keep fresh mentally and to be able to change a little bit of dynamic in the third (was important). To find the solution is what I'm most proud of."
Unfazed, Kuznetsov unleashed a forehand return dagger down the line breaking right back, but that was his last stand.
Nadal's response was stunning. Racing left, he whipped a forehand down the line for triple break point. Two points, later, Nadal pounced on a mid-court ball and hammered a forehand down the opposite sideline breaking again for 5-4. A heavy serve down the middle closed a tight test in two hours, seven minutes.
Nadal will play No. 94 Illya Marchenko for a place in the final as the 14-time Grand Slam champion continues to pursue his first hard-court title since he won the 2014 Doha crown.