No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal has survived a potentially hazardous contest against Croatian serving machine Ivo Karlovic, advancing to a blockbuster quarter-final showdown with Scot Andy Murray.
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Nadal gained crucial breaks in the first, third and fourth sets on Sunday to win 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours in 36 minutes at Rod Laver Arena.
The Spaniard likened facing Karlovic’s serve to a penalty shootout in soccer. “You go to one place,” he explained.
“You try to see where he put the ball, where he tosses the ball. But you know a lot of times he change.
“Today the match is probably one of the most difficult matches to play well because is without rhythm all the time. So the victory is the only thing in this kind of match, no? I did. I think I returned aggressive. When I had a chance to touch the ball, I did well.”
Predictably, games went on serve for most of the first set, as Nadal struggled to make inroads on Karlovic’s giant delivery. However, the Croatian wasn’t completely firing, landing only 56 per cent of first serves and delivering, by his standards, a relatively-low seven aces.
Nadal scored a break in the ninth game, aided by some sloppy Karlovic net play to move ahead 15-40, and he broke on his third opportunity with a dipping return that landed at the feet of his 208cm opponent.
Nadal consolidated the break to take the set. Karlovic immediately responded by putting Nadal’s serve under pressure in the second game of the second set, but was ultimately unable to convert thanks to some excellent shotmaking from the Spaniard.
Games went on serve for the rest of the set until, when leading 4-5, Karlovic unexpectedly broke to love and tied the match up at one set apiece.
Jolted into action, Nadal lifted his level and played a terrific third game, flashing a forehand winner, scampering to track down a drop shot and flicking a winner crosscourt, smacking a backhand return winner and hooking a brilliant passing shot off the back foot to break Karlovic for a 2-1 lead.
Consolidating the break, Nadal maintained his advantage for the rest of the set, which he clinched in 38 minutes.
The fourth set followed much the same pattern as the third; Nadal gained a telling break in the third game by scorching a winner off a Karlovic second serve, and games went on serve for the remainder of the match.
The Spaniard threatened to snare a second break for the set when his firing forehand saw him lead 15-30. Despite losing his advantage, he took the game to deuce with another forehand winner before Karlovic subsequently served his way out of trouble.
Presented with the chance to serve out the match, the world No. 2 did not falter. An athletic backhand smash and a perfect drop volley helped him to 40-0, and he served out the match after forcing an error from Karlovic’s racquet.
Looking ahead to his quarter-final against Murray, Nadal was full of respect for his opponent.
“First thing is he is very good. Yeah, he's one of the most talented players on tour. He can play offensive, he can play defensive. He can do a lot of things during the same match. So that's a most important thing.
“(Secondly) he's a big player, and he's a winner.”
Fast facts
- Karlovic served 28 aces, while Nadal recorded two.
- Nadal hit 35 winners and committed just 15 errors.
- Karlovic’s error count was 42, contrasting with his 27 winners.
- Karlovic’s fastest serve for the match was clocked at 222km/h, and he averaged 208km/h on his first delivery.
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