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Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Denis Gremelmayr of Germany during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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BEIJING, May 4 -- Rafael Nadal survived an early scare at the Barcelona Open on Friday to beat Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4, 6-2 for a place in the semifinals.
The top seed, trying to win the title for the fourth
successive time, looked off-color early on to trail 2-4 but roared back to
clinch the match.
He will next meet unseeded German Denis Gremelmayr,
who edged out another Spaniard, 10th seed Nicolas Almagro 6-2, 3-6, 7-6.
Nadal conceded just four games to the Argentine the
last time they met but Chela began superbly, taking risks and putting the top
seed under rare pressure.
Chela broke the Nadal serve to love to lead 4-2 but
the match effectively hinged on an epic seventh game.
Chela had five chances to extend his lead to 5-2 but
Nadal suddenly sprung to life, taking his third break-point chance to get back
on terms.
"If it had gone to 5-2 it would have been very
difficult to win the first set," Nadal said in a courtside interview.
Second seed David Ferrer came through his second
tough battle in as many days to reach the semi-finals, beating Spanish
compatriot Tommy Robredo 7-6 (4), 6-4.
The world No. 5, pushed hard by Ecuadorian Nicolas
Lapentti in the previous round, battled past the sixth seed in two hours, five
minutes.
He will play 14th seed Stanislas Wawrinka for a place
in the final after the Swiss fought off the challenge of another Spaniard,
Albert Montanes, 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-4.
In Munich, Younes El Aynaoui became the oldest
semifinalist on the ATP Tour in 15 years when he beat Juan Martin Del Potro of
Argentina 6-4, 6-4 on Friday to reach the last four at the BMW Open.
The Moroccan, at 36 years and seventh months, became
the oldest semifinalist on the tour since Jimmy Connors played in the last four
in San Francisco in 1993 at the age of 40 years and five months.
El Aynaoui, ranked No. 295, next plays second-seeded
Fernando Gonzalez, who is looking for his second title of the year. Gonzalez
beat Marat Safin 6-3, 7-5.
(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)
| Rafael Nadal |
Born |
June 03,
1986 |
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|
Height |
182 cm |
|
Weight |
85 kg |
|
Residence |
Mallorca,
Spain |
|
Pro
since |
2001 |
|
Plays |
Left handed,
with two-handed backhand |
 |
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Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to Denis Gremelmayr of Germany during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Denis Gremelmayr of Germany serves to Rafael Nadal of Spain during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
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Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Denis Gremelmayr of Germany during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
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Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Denis Gremelmayr of Germany during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
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Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Denis Gremelmayr of Germany during their semi-final match at the Barcelona Open tennis tournament May 3, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>> |
