CHENNAI OPEN Chennai, India |
January 5, 2008 |
| Nadal Outbattles Moya to Set Up Youzhny Final | |
| © Getty Images With Moya serving for the match at 5-4 in the decisive set, Nadal finally succeeded in breaking his compatriot on his eighth break point opportunity of the third set. Nadal rolled out to a 5-0 lead in the tie-break and converted on his first of five match points to seal the win in three hours and 54 minutes. "Carlos played very well, I don't remember the last time I saw him play so well. If he continues like this he can beat anyone on any surface," said Nadal "This was one of my best wins ever. It was a very emotional match." The match was the longest three-set match since 1993 when Andrei Cherkasov defeated Andrea Gaudenzi in the quarterfinals of Tel Aviv, a match that also spanned the same amount of time. Two-time Chennai champion and third seed Moya had his fair share of chances to secure the victory over the World No. 2. He earned three match points at 6-3 in the second set tie-break, but Nadal saved the first match point with a backhand winner and Moya hit wide returns on the next two. Moya's next opportunity came at 7-6 following a forehand winner, but Nadal saved the match with a great pass and proceeded to win the tie-break, 10-8. "I would not change anything," said Moya. "I had my chances to win the match but did not take them. Rafa won the last point and deserved to win, that's the way tennis goes. The 21-year-old Nadal, who is chasing his 24th career ATP title, will be making his first appearance in the Chennai title match and his second in a pre-Australian Open final. He was runner-up at 2004 in Auckland (l. to Hrbaty). Nadal brings in a 6-3 lifetime record against Youzhny, including a three-game winning streak against the Russian. World No. 19 Youzhny converted four of eight break points and dropped just 10 points on serve in his dismissal of Cilic, which took one hour and 23 minutes. "(Cilic) had a lot of talent and a great future but he's young and he finished his quarterfinal very late last night," said Youzhny. "I finished late too but I have more experience in this situation and it showed today." Playing for the second time in Chennai, Youzhny is enjoyed a marked improvement on his debut in 2001, which saw him fall in the second round. He now improves to 5-1 at the event. The 25-year-old Youzhny now improves to 8-14 in career ATP singles semifinals. He is a three-time titlist, lifting the trophies in Stuttgart 2002, St. Petersburg 2004 and Rotterdam last season. Making his debut in Chennai, Cilic enjoyed an impressive win in the second round when he defeated No. 5 seed Nicolas Mahut. The Croatian teenager is still searching for a place in his first ATP singles final, having lost three semifinals now. He slips to 2-5 lifetime against Top 20 players. Friday: Nadal to Meet Moya; Youzhny to Face Cilic in SFs |
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Spaniard Rafael Nadal outlasted former mentor Carlos Moya in a semifinal battle on Saturday at the Chennai Open, saving four match points in the second set tie-break en route to a 6-7(3), 7-6(8), 7-6(1) win. The top seed will face No. 4 seed Mikhail Youzhny (pictured) for the title after the Russian secured a straight-sets victory over 19-year-old Croat Marin Cilic, 6-2, 6-3.
