Rafael Nadal powered his way into a record-extending 12th semi-final on Tuesday at Roland Garros, where he will meet his long-time rival Roger Federer.
Nadal celebrates after beating Nishikori in the quarter-final
Paris:
Nadal will now attempt to extend his 23-15 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Federer, with his first win over the Swiss since January 2014 in the Australian Open semi-final. Nadal has a 13-2 record against Federer on clay, including wins at Roland Garros in the 2005 semi-finals, and the 2006-07-08 and 2011 finals.
Nadal came within one point of taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, which he clinched in 34 minutes with service breaks in the second and sixth games. Nishikori, with back-to-back five-set wins over No. 31 seed Laslo Djere and Benoit Paire in his legs, won 10 of his 22 service points.
There were three straight service breaks at the start of the second set, but Nadal held onto his early momentum and grew in confidence once more, committing just four unforced errors. He saved four break points at the start of the third set, then broke Nishikori at 2-1.
Nadal closed out to love for a 5-2 lead upon the resumption of play, following a 60-minute break, and soon completed his 91st win in 93 matches at Roland Garros. Fifteen minutes later, on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Federer finished off Wawrinka in four sets 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.
The 11-time champion was simply too strong for seventh-seeded Japanese star Kei Nishikori, who had reached his third quarter-final in the Paris after back-to-back five-set victories. Nadal triumphed 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in a Court Philippe-Chatrier clash, which lasted one hour and 50 minutes and was interrupted for more than one hour due to rain.
Nadal will now attempt to extend his 23-15 FedEx ATP Head2Head record against Federer, with his first win over the Swiss since January 2014 in the Australian Open semi-final. Nadal has a 13-2 record against Federer on clay, including wins at Roland Garros in the 2005 semi-finals, and the 2006-07-08 and 2011 finals.
Nadal came within one point of taking a 4-0 lead in the first set, which he clinched in 34 minutes with service breaks in the second and sixth games. Nishikori, with back-to-back five-set wins over No. 31 seed Laslo Djere and Benoit Paire in his legs, won 10 of his 22 service points.
There were three straight service breaks at the start of the second set, but Nadal held onto his early momentum and grew in confidence once more, committing just four unforced errors. He saved four break points at the start of the third set, then broke Nishikori at 2-1.
Nadal closed out to love for a 5-2 lead upon the resumption of play, following a 60-minute break, and soon completed his 91st win in 93 matches at Roland Garros. Fifteen minutes later, on Court Suzanne-Lenglen, Federer finished off Wawrinka in four sets 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4.