Nadal Downs Kohlschreiber for 19th Consecutive Victory

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Nadal Downs Kohlschreiber for 19th Consecutive Victory

By Chris Oddo/ Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Rafael Nadal moved within two matches of the No. 1 ranking with a 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber in Beijing.

Photo Source: AFP

Rafael Nadal weathered an early push from world No. 25 Philipp Kohlschreiber to claim his 19th consecutive win and 24th in a row on a hard court in Beijing on Wednesday, 6-4, 7-6(3).

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In just his second match since the U.S. Open, Nadal twice squandered break advantages in the first set, and even had to save another break point at 4-all before taking the next game en route to the victory in one hour and fifty-four minutes.

Nadal, who dropped the first set to Kohlschreiber at this year's U.S. Open before winning in four sets, moves to 11-1 against the German lifetime. But he struggled in the first, and also needed to save another three break points in the second set before finally finishing off the match in a tiebreaker.

Credit Kohlschreiber, Nadal says, for pushing him yet again.

"Today the serve, in my opinion, helped in the important moments," Nadal said. "But it's true that his level of tennis I think was just brilliant tonight.”

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Nadal, now just two matches from assuring himself another stint at No. 1 in the world regardless of Djokovic's result in Beijing, saved four of six break points and won 31 of 46 second service points on the evening. He will face Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals.

Nadal improved his record to 63-3 on the season, and is bidding for his 11th title in 13 events this season.

Elsewhere in China Open action on Wednesday, eighth-seeded American John Isner bested Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-4, while Fabio Fognini hammered Lleyton Hewitt 6-0, 6-2 to reach his ninth ATP quarterfinal of the season.

The Italian, ranked No. 19 in the world, is bidding to become the first Italian to finish in the ATP's top 20 since Corrado Barrazzutti finished No. 10 in 1978.