Nadal Advances to Ginepri Match-up at ATP Madrid
Posted on October 22, 2005Rafael Nadal continued to put his knee tendonitis problems behind him Friday at the ATP Masters Series-Madrid, with the top-seeded Spaniard defeating No. 10 Radek Stepanek 7-6(9), 6-4 to move into the semifinals.
"Stepanek was a very uncomfortable opponent and it was a very tough match," Nadal said. "But the important thing is that I'm in the semis in front of my home crowd. I haven't played well in Madrid in previous years and I really want to make the final this time."
No. 5 seed David Nalbandian showed his return-of-serve skills in putting down Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Also into the semis was No. 16-seeded American Robby Ginepri (d. (11) Ferrer), and No. 8 Ivan Ljubicic (d. (15) Gonzalez from a set down).
"I came out playing extremely well," Ginepri said. "I served well, got off to a good start and David wasn't on the top of his game at the beginning."
Into the doubles semifinals Friday were (2) Black/Ullyett (d. Arthurs/Hanley), (3) Knowles/Nestor (d. (WC) Ferrer/Verdasco), (4) Llodra/Santoro (received a walkover from (WC) Blake/Roddick with Roddick ill), and Paes/Zimonjic (d. Bhupathi/Damm).
Saturday's match-ups are (1) Nadal vs. (16) Ginepri in a first-time meeting, (8) Ljubicic vs. (5) Nalbandian (the Argentine won their lone meeting last year in Madrid), and in doubles (3) Knowles/Nestor vs. (2) Black/Ullyett, and Paes/Zimonjic vs. (4) Llodra/Santoro.
"Stepanek was a very uncomfortable opponent and it was a very tough match," Nadal said. "But the important thing is that I'm in the semis in front of my home crowd. I haven't played well in Madrid in previous years and I really want to make the final this time."
No. 5 seed David Nalbandian showed his return-of-serve skills in putting down Croatian qualifier Ivo Karlovic in straight sets.
Also into the semis was No. 16-seeded American Robby Ginepri (d. (11) Ferrer), and No. 8 Ivan Ljubicic (d. (15) Gonzalez from a set down).
"I came out playing extremely well," Ginepri said. "I served well, got off to a good start and David wasn't on the top of his game at the beginning."
Into the doubles semifinals Friday were (2) Black/Ullyett (d. Arthurs/Hanley), (3) Knowles/Nestor (d. (WC) Ferrer/Verdasco), (4) Llodra/Santoro (received a walkover from (WC) Blake/Roddick with Roddick ill), and Paes/Zimonjic (d. Bhupathi/Damm).
Saturday's match-ups are (1) Nadal vs. (16) Ginepri in a first-time meeting, (8) Ljubicic vs. (5) Nalbandian (the Argentine won their lone meeting last year in Madrid), and in doubles (3) Knowles/Nestor vs. (2) Black/Ullyett, and Paes/Zimonjic vs. (4) Llodra/Santoro.