Rafael Nadal had to shine his entire caste of facing a tenacious champion Sam Querrey on Monday for access to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. Although ceded its first set of the tournament, the world's number one sang victory 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2) 6-3 in front of the local Querrey, a player of modest background, not preclasificado and it played to Spanish without any complexes.
Nadal was able to access the round of the eight best in the Open for the second time in six editions.
To pursue its goal lifted his third Grand Slam title of the year, Nadal must beat another American without prequalification. This is Mardy Fish, who for the first time in nine attempts were put to the quarterfinals after winning 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to French Gael Monfils.
Two years ago, succumbed Nadal into quarters, but on the horizon are encouraged to embed its name in a very select group. Look emulate Rod Laver, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as the fourth man who conquers three consecutive Grand Slams.
I got my best round for the second time, now I want to do better, said Nadal.
But the piece had to work for 3 hours and 13 minutes at Arthur Ashe Stadium before a rival surely regret that the string of opportunities to break out of that wasted: only converted four of 16.
Nadal won the first set comfortably and everything outlined a procedure for expeditious, but Querrey 5-4 against a back in the second set to even the match before the astonished gaze of Nadal.
It was quite a game changing, Nadal told. First was committing many mistakes ... giving away many points. All I was complicated after the 5-4, I played this game very badly.
It was complicated but he added the champion of Roland Garros, Wimbledon and Olympic gold. Sam is a player very high and pulls too hard.
The Spanish were shocked and knew immediately contain the onslaught to take the third part in a tiebreaker in which he won the last four points.
The good news is that I rate than in the tiebreaker I could have my best level of the party, he said.
Then in the fourth, lifted half a dozen breaking balls to undermine the resistance of Querrey in the seventh game 5-2 and off.
A second hour, Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro was looking for room to pass the measure with the Japanese Kei Nishikori, while Britain's Andy Murray did it before the Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
In the women's branch, Venus Williams (7) did its part for a fraternal duel in the quarter-finals to win 6-1, 6-3 to Agnieszka Radwanska. Her sister Serena was measured after the French Severine Bremond.
In addition, Russian Dinara Safina (6) rid 7-5, 6-0 to Germany's Anna-Lena Groenefeld 7-5, 6-0. Fulfilling the best campaign of his career, which lost in the finals of Roland Garros tennis and the Olympic Safina will now look with Italian Flavia Pennetta (16), who dispatched 6-3, 6-0 to France's Amelie Mauresmo (32).
