By Chris Oddo/ Friday, January 3, 2014

 

After a slow start against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk, Rafael Nadal notched another milestone win in Doha.

Photo Source: AP

Rafael Nadal suddenly found himself trailing an unknown qualifier from Germany by the name of Peter Gojowczyk on Friday in Doha, but as is typically the case, the 13-time Grand Slam champion found a way to rally past his challenger.

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Gojowczyk, only the fourth qualifier to reach the Doha semifinals since 1993, raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first set of the match, and despite a Nadal charge he was able to secure that first set by the score of 6-4.

But Nadal would regain his traction in the second set and sink his teeth into the match from there. "I think beginning of the second set was very important," Nadal said. “I started with a little bit higher rhythm.” That newfound rhythm would allow Nadal to take a 4-0 lead en route to forcing a decider.

In the third set, after trading breaks with the feisty Munich native, Nadal would go for the jugular, notching his third service break of the set in the ninth game to secure the 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory.

Nadal ties Michael Chang for 13th on the ATP's all-time win list with 662 wins, and he'll look to move ahead of Chang when he faces Gael Monfils in the final.

Monfils won his fourth consecutive match without dropping a set when he defeated Florian Mayer, 6-3, 6-2, in 55 minutes.

The Frenchman owns a 2-8 career record against Nadal, but both his wins have come in Doha, and both in straight sets.