Nadal Reaches Miami Quarters
Four-time finalist Rafael Nadal is now two matches away from again contending for his first title at the Miami Open presented by Itau. The Spaniard advanced to the Miami quarter-finals on Tuesday, advancing past the veteran Nicolas Mahut 6-4, 7-6(4) in what could have been a tricky fourth-round match-up in Key Biscayne.
Nadal was unbeatable on his serve though, winning 92 per cent of his first-serve points and never facing a break point in the one-hour and 35-minute contest. Mahut served and volleyed with success, taking 64 per cent of his net points (18/28).
But the 35-year-old Frenchman lost his only break point and was outdone in the second-set tie-break. Nadal smashed an inside-out forehand winner to clinch the round of 16 affair.
The fifth-seeded Nadal will meet the red-hot American Jack Sock in the quarter-finals. In an all-American match-up, Sock won 71 per cent of his service points as he defeated #NextGenATP Jared Donaldson 6-2, 6-1 in 63 minutes.
[ALSO LIKE]
Asked to draw comparisons with Roger Federer's blazing start to the year and his own impressive early-season form, Nadal said: "I think it is a good start of the year for both of us. Obviously a little bit better for him. But at the same time, I am happy the way that I am playing, happy the way that I started the year after a tough second part of the year last year with injuries. So I think it's positive for both of us that we can still be around here and be very competitive almost every week we're playing."
Looking ahead to his meeting with Sock, Nadal said: "He's a very aggressive player, very powerful player, big serve, big forehand, and a good backhand, too. He plays quick with his backhand.So I need to play aggressive. That's the only way. If I let him play in a comfortable position it's going to be impossible for me. So I need to be focus with my serve, but at the same time I need to be aggressive."
Sock is coming off his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 semi-final showing in Indian Wells, where his run was ended by Roger Federer. The 24 year old has made early moves in the Emirates ATP Race To London, currently ninth after a career-best start to the year, which has seen him win two ATP World Tour titles in Auckland and Delray Beach.
“The more matches you win the better you feel, the more confident you are,” Sock said. “Physically, mentally [I've] never felt better or stronger, so just excited for the rest of the year.”