Rafael Nadal showed why he is a triple Grand Slam champion after taking a 2-0 lead in the final set of his rain-interrupted third-round match against Sweden's Robin Soderling.
The French Open champion looked down and out after squandering a match point and dropping the third and fourth sets against the world number 28.
The match, originally scheduled for last Saturday, was suspended for rain at 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 2-0 on Monday.
The Spaniard began slowly and saved a break point in his opening service game as he struggled to find his range. He eventually broke the big-serving Soderling in the seventh game with a forehand passing shot and went on to take the set.
Nadal, who lost to Roger Federer in last year's final, began to vary his shots, showing some deft touches at the net and made the decisive break for the second set when Soderling netted a backhand.
However, Soderling then got the measure of Nadal and at 7-6 in the third set tiebreak, the second seed sent his favoured forehand long -- a call which was confirmed by Hawkeye.
Soderling took the set 9-7 with an ace some two hours later after a rain delay. It was the first time Nadal had dropped a set this tournament.
The Swede kept up the pressure in the fourth set, outfoxing the sweat-drenched Nadal whose timing had deserted him.
However, Nadal, one of the fittest players on tour, broke for a 2-0 lead in the fifth set before the rain began falling again and play was called off for the day.
© 2024 Rediff.com -