Nadal extends unbeaten run on clay to
70 matches
(AP) - Rafael Nadal extended his
unbeaten run on clay to 70 matches Friday and advanced to the semifinals
of the Open Seat Godo by beating Potito Starace of Italy 6-2, 7-5.
After dropping serve to Starace in the 10th game of the second set, the
two-time defending champion immediately broke the Italian for the fourth
time before serving out the win.
"I came out on top in the difficult
moments," Nadal said. "The truth is I didn't feel great, especially in
the second set when I had a few break point chances against me."
Nadal, who hasn't dropped a set on clay in 19 games, goes for his 12th
championship in the streak. He next plays David Ferrer of Spain, who
beat David Nalbandian of Argentina 7-6 (5), 6-2.
After no breaks of serve in the first set, the fifth-seeded Ferrer broke
twice in the second set to improve to 4-0 on clay against the
fourth-seeded Argentine.
"This year I'm playing consistently, I'm relaxed with my game and I
think this is the best start to a season of my career," Ferrer said.
"With Rafael Nadal as the opponent tomorrow, the title looks very far
away, but I'll bring everything without forgetting he is the favorite."
Ferrer has beaten Nadal only once in four meetings, on clay at Stuttgart
in 2004.
Guillermo Canas of Argentina also advanced after second-seeded Nikolay
Davydenko withdrew ahead of their quarterfinals match because of an
injury.
Canas will face Agustin Calleri, who beat Oscar Hernandez 6-0, 6-3.
Calleri broke Hernandez five times without dropping a single service
game to match his best finish in Barcelona. Calleri lost to eventual
champion Carlos Moya in the semifinals in 2003.
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