Tokyo, Oct 7: Top-seeded Rafael Nadal reached the semifinals of the Japan Open by beating Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 7-6 (6), 6-3 Friday.
The defending champion from Spain was pushed early by the 53rd-ranked Giraldo, who forced a first-set tiebreaker at Ariake Colosseum. In the second set, Nadal broke early but Giraldo had a chance to break back late in the match.
“It was a tough first set. I thought I could play more relaxed in the second set,” Nadal said. “He is a very graceful player who can hit winners from everywhere.”
The Colombian earned a break point with Nadal serving for the match at 5-3, but the Spaniard hit a passing winner to get to deuce and ended the match moments later.
“You are worried at 7-6, 5-3, break point against,” Nadal said. “The match can change. You never know in tennis.”
Nadal will next play Mardy Fish of the United States. The fourth-seeded Fish defeated Bernard Tomic of Australia 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-1.
“I need to be more aggressive with my forehand,” Nadal stated. “I was long and high today. I have to play more inside the court.”
Fish is looking for his second title of the season. The American won in Atlanta and reached the final in Los Angeles and Montreal.
Against Tomic, the American broke late in the second set despite trailing 40-0, and then served out the set.
“I just had to hang in there and fight as hard as I could and try to take advantage of any opportunity I had there late in the second set,” Fish said. “I think it was 4-4 and I'm pretty sure he was up 40-0 at 4-4 with a serve and I came back to win that game. That was sort of a turning point.”
Third-seeded David Ferrer also reached the semifinals. The Spaniard defeated seventh-seeded Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic 6-2, 7-6 (3) and will next face either second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain or David Nalbandian of Argentina. AP
