Nadal survives huge scare to progress
Rafael Nadal taken the distance by teenager
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Thursday, 12, Feb 2009 10:00
Spaniard Rafael Nadal was pushed to the limit by teenager Grigor Dimitrov before prevailing 7-5 3-6 6-2 at the World Indoor Tournament in Rotterdam.
The world number one looked to be heading for a comfortable win after taking the first set with ease. But Dimitorv came fighting back and showed his huge potential midway through the second set.
The youngster came up with a sheer moment of brilliance to break Nadal at 4-3. Dimitrov was at least two feet behind the baseline when out of nowhere he came up with a bullet forehand down the line, which measured at 167kph.
That point set up the break point and Dimitrov went on to break after the world number one came up with an unforced error. Dimitrov showed no signs of nerves as he comfortably served out to take the set.
Dimitrov jogged back to his seat after winning the second set and showed the kind of swagger in his step which is usually seen from Nadal.
The 17-year-old continued to match Nadal in the decider and the pair were locked at 2-2. Dimitrov then had golden chances to break, but wasted two break point chances. Nadal saved the first break point with a punishing forehand cross-court winner which clipped the line, while Dimitrov found the net on the second break point.
Dimitrov looked devastated after failing to break Nadal and his body language changed and looked to have lost confidence. Nadal took advantage and broke to take a commanding 4-2 lead.
The young Bulgarian looked more jaded as the set wore on and looked to be struggling with a calf injury. And though he had a break point on the Nadal service game at 4-2 down, he was unable to convert and was broken again to lose the set 6-2.