World No.1 Rafael Nadal on Sunday beat Nikoloz Basilashvili in four sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 to reach the US Open quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows, in New York.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal beats 37th ranked Nikoloz Basilashvili in four sets to reach the US Open quarter-finals. (Source:www.newsday.com)
The Spaniard, looking for a fourth trophy at Flushing Meadows after those lifted in 2010, 2013 and 2017, he will face World No. 9 Dominic Thiem in the quarter-final for a remake of the final of the last Roland Garros.
Nadal has reached at least the quarter-finals in all four Grand Slams in 2018 the first time he has achieved the feat since 2011.
The 32-year-old star played without a bandage court Arthur-Ashe, and obviously without being embarrassed in his movements and on his supports. But quiet winner of the first two rounds, he was surprised in the third set by the elevation of the game level of Basilashvili, which began to chain the winning setbacks. In total, the Georgian hit 22 for a total of 56 winning strokes!
The 26-year-old, who came back from two sets to one, was one of the world’s toughest opponents for the last time, when he tackled at 3-3 after firing two 4-game balls at 1 in the fourth set.
Less success then, apparently started physically, he allowed Nadal to resume his walk forward to conclude after almost 3h20 min.
“I had two very tough games in a row. This was a physical one but I feel good.” said Nadal, who has accumulated nearly eight hours of play in his last two rounds.
“It’s an important win for me, after my match two days ago, there was the question of my physical condition but I feel good,”he added.
Dominic Thiem reaches the US Open quarter-finals for first time. (Source:www.sports.yahoo.com)
Thiem, meanwhile, he beat fifth seed Kevin Anderson in three sets 7-5, 6-2, 7-6(2). The Austrian reached his first quarter-finals at any Grand Slam besides French Open. He was incredibly close to getting there in 2017 at the US Open.
“One of my best matches ever. A dream coming true. The court, I think made a big difference. It’s a huge court. I could go very far back like I do on clay usually. So there were some good advantages for me today.” said Thiem in an on-court interview.
