Defending champion Rafael Nadal reached the semi-finals of ATP Tokyo with a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory over Santiago Giraldo. The top seed will face Mardy Fish in the last four after he beat Bernard Tomic 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1.?
Nadal had won all three of the previous meetings with Giraldo, including a 6-4 6-4 triumph in the Japan tournament last season.
But with neither player having dropped a set in this year’s tournament, the Colombian seemed to have a chance of an upset.
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Despite the opening set going with serve, it took Giraldo a few games to earn the confidence to attack his illustrious opponent. And he needed that confidence in the ninth game to save three break points, sealing the hold with points four and five in succession.
However there was no sign of him threatening the impressive Nadal serve as the set moved to the tie-break. Nadal went two mini-breaks up but both were gobbled up by Giraldo, who then took the lead; Nadal’s serve brought him back to 5-5 and he sealed the set at the second opportunity with another big service.
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Nadal made an early breakthrough in the second set, breaking Giraldo to love with some ferocious returning to go 2-0 up. However the Colombian unexpectedly and immediately broke back, a mixture of tenacity and courage seeing him sneak it from deuce.
Nadal responded with the match’s third break in a row after Giraldo had made a mess of a simple chance on game point then the former moved 4-1 up with a simple hold.
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Giraldo put up a fight in the final games, but was unable to make any headway as they all went with serve. In the final game he earned break point with a mid-court winner to climax a monumental rally, but Nadal passed him as he came close meaning to finish the game with a volley – and the Spaniard closed it out two points later when a tired Giraldo returned wide.
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A sterner test awaits in Fish, but Nadal looks in good form and the prospect of a final with Andy Murray, who faces David Nalbandian in the last eight later, is a mouth-watering one.
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