Fighting Nadal earns semifinal clash with Murray

07/27/2008

TORONTO — Rafael Nadal recovered after a marathon tiebreak setback to book a semifinal face-off against Andy Murray with a high-tension triumph over France’s Richard Gasquet on Friday.

Spain’s Wimbledon and French Open champion overcame 10th-seeded Gasquet 6-7 (12/14), 6-2, 6-1 but required 2 hours, 14 minutes to claim his 59th victory of the season.

Nadal roared back after losing the 75-minute opening set, which Gasquet claimed on his sixth set point after saving two set points for Nadal.

“It was a very tough first set,” Nadal said. “I had chances, I was up a a break twice.

“But Richard played well to beat me in the set. In the second I had to stay positive and concentrated.”

Murray, seeded eighth, cut short the title defense of Serbian Novak Djokovic, the eighth-seeded Scot stunning the number three by a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) scoreline.

Murray made quick work of Djokovic — who beat Roger Federer and Nadal en route to the title last year — wrapping up an impressive victory in 1 hour 44 minutes.

“It’s a big win mentally for me, the last three times I played him I lost pretty badly,” Murray said. AFP

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