Rafa relieved after getting past big-serving Karlovic to enter Indian Wells' semi-finals
Rafa relieved after getting past big-serving Karlovic to enter Indian Wells' semi-finals
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Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates his 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 Masters 1000 quarter-
final win over Croatia's Ivo Karlovic in Indian Wells, California yesterday.
Pic/AFP
The Spanish top seed clinched a 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (9/7) win on his third match-point in the third set tie-break when the Croatian smacked a forehand long to end the match lasting nearly two-and-a-half hours.
"It was a very tight, difficult match," said Nadal, a two-time former winner of the tournament. "If you lose a set against Karlovic then you are under pressure for the rest of the match. In the third set his serve was unstoppable.
In the tie-breaker I was really nervous. For sure it is a big day for me to be in the semi-final." Nadal, who will be playing in his sixth consecutive semi-final at the tournament, will play Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro next, who progressed without even taking to the court after Tommy Robredo withdrew with an injury.
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