Nadal loses to qualifier Klizan in exhausting China Open quarter-final

Sport360 staff 07:34 04/10/2014
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  • Finding it tough: Rafael Nadal tried his best but fell short against Martin Klizan in the China Open yesterday.

    Rafael Nadal crashed out of the China Open yesterday, tiring at the end of a gruelling three-set quarter- final against qualifier Martin Klizan.

    In only his third outing since returning from three months on the sidelines, 14-times grand slam winner Nadal managed just two points in the last four games of a match that he lost 6-7 (7/9) 6-4, 6-3.

    The world No3 won the first set at the tie break, and was 4-3 ahead in the second before Slovakia’s Klizan fought back and forced a decider.

    The second seed then appeared to be edging through to the semifinals after breaking serve in the third set to make it 3-2 in his favour.

    But Klizan, who is ranked 56th by the ATP, then tore into Nadal, taking nine consecutive points in quick succession and the final four games as he closed in on victory.

    Before Beijing, Nadal had not played competitively since he was dumped out at Wimbledon by 19-year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios.

    He was then struck down in training by a right wrist injury which forced him to miss the US Open.

    The nine-time French Open champion looked more composed during the previous two rounds in the Chinese capital, which he won in straight sets.

    But the quarter-final loss was a grim awakening that it may be a while until he is back to his worldbeating best.

    “It will not be easy after what happened,” Nadal said.

    “When you are outside for a few months, as I said the other day, it is not the same as if you are coming back the next season that everybody starts from zero.

    “You are coming back now, and the other players are on the road, are in rhythm. Physically you feel more tired.”

    Klizan will meet third seed Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals, after the world No6 Czech beat American John Isner, his doubles partner, 6-1, 6-4.

    Reigning champion Novak Djokovic powered through to the last four as he overcame fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-4.

    “Everything worked well. The second set was up and down. But generally was a good performance,” the world No1 said.

    The Serb is bidding for his fifth title in Beijing, a tournament he has won every year since 2009 – apart from 2011, when he did not take part.

    He will now face Briton Andy Murray in the semi-finals after the sixth seed won his quarter-final against Croatia’s US Open champion Marin Cilic 6-1, 6-4.

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