ernests gulbis

Slovakia's Lukas Lacko played the match of his life before the Spanish • In the quarter-finals will take on Latvian Ernests Gulbis

With more work than expected, Rafael Nadal pulled out a commitment to the Slovakian Lukas Lacko, which endorsed the Spanish a 6-0 in the second set and extended to three sets the match, but that solved in the end the world number one to reach the quarter-finals in Doha (7-6 (3), 0-6 and 6-3).

Lacko, which closed last year since 89 of the rankings and, at 23 years, no flashy records (no final ATP), played the match of his life before the Spanish, against that had nothing to lose.

Nadal, who won with authority in the only previous game they had both played in the second round of Australia Open last year (6-2, 6-2, 6-2), he found an opponent grown. With extra motivation and significantly successful. Little to do with his tennis image offered in the first round match in which he won a lot of work to another Spanish Pere Riba (5-7, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (4)).

Rafael Nadal confirmed the difficulties that would bring the Central since the beginning of the game. Lacko broke the serve of the Balearic Islands in the third game. Although the world number one made up for the situation immediately. The part arrived the tiebreaker, which said Spanish fluently (7-3).

Finalist last year in Doha suffered after the reaction of the Slovak. Nadal is not used to have situations like the one he submitted his opponent. Extremely wise in his punches, he took the track world number one, who only scored eleven points in the entire part, which failed to join any game.

Rafael Nadal reacted strongly in the final sleeve. He stood 4-0 with a sense of power to return the result. But Lacko had not said its last word. With the impact generated by the Spanish, turned to demand the maximum. He went to 4-3, but could not withstand the final arreón Spaniard, who gave no further concessions and closed the match by breaking in the service of Slovak white (6-3) and after two hours and 18 minutes of play.

Nadal is already in the quarterfinals. Will take on Latvian Ernests Gulbis, who beat Croatia's smooth, from the qualifying round, Antonio Veic, 6-3, 6-1. Moreover, the Russian Nikolay Davydenko, fourth seed, knocked in two sets to Finn Jarkko Nieminen (6-4 and 7-5), to prolong the defense of the title he won last year and reach the quarter-finals in Doha.

Davydenko, who took an hour and 35 minutes to solve the commitment will face in the third round by Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who beat Germany's Phillip Kohlschreiber, eighth favorite, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (4) and 7-6 (2).

The Spanish suffered more than expected to break Federer's executioner • The Latvian got more than 50 winners against Nadal's seventeen and a first service effectiveness of more than 80 percent

On the day of trabajor, Rafa Nadal had to work longer than expected to seal their place in the 1000 Masters final in Rome against Ernests Gulbis, who finished 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in a match nearly three-hour marathon. With this victory, one year Spanish champions will be more in the Italian capital, as the Spaniard will play in the final Ferrer in the other semifinal had beaten Verdasco.

Nadal began the match showing why he is the king of clay. In the first game and broke Gulbis service and soon was placed with a 1-3 in their favor. It seemed that the first set was going to be plain sailing for the Spanish. Indeed, Rafa was about to extend their lead in the fifth game but an endless missed two chances which it decided to return to break the Latvian service. I was not playing to his usual standard but still, as he easily won his serve, his opponent cost him a world to keep your service.

Something did not seem to take its toll psychologically to the Latvian, who continued to oppose more resistance than expected and did sweat blood to Rafa to win the first set. Do not forget that Gulbis had arrived here after leaving the Federer way. With a 4-5 in favor of Spanish and serving, the player of Riga had two chances to break the service, but to Manacor not only saved the two break balls but at first he had to take the set left him sentenced .

The best version of Gulbis

If war had already given in the first leg, the second Gulbis proved intractable. With a lethal kick (got more than 50 winners), and remaining firm from the bottom of the track did much damage to Spanish and was able to take advantage of the downturn of unknown Nadal, who missed the game than ever before which lacked continuity. The consistency of the first set him away like a sugar cube.

Latvian broke his serve in the second game and increased their lead to be placed with a 3-0 in his favor that the Manacor lastraría the rest of the set, but everything could have changed when with a 3-1 win against Rafa was break a ball that did not take advantage. Was Clearly, this evening playing experience on the clay. In the end, Gulbis took second with autoriadad (6-3).

A very tight third set

The third set began as he finished second, with Gulbis released in the first game could even break Nadal's serve. The war was open and neither player was willing to give up his serve, hence that equality was the dominant note.

While Nadal was not the usual, began to symptoms of some improvement while desquiaciar Gulbis was his rival with powerful serves and left continuous.

The Spanish had four opportunities to break the Latvian service and register with a 2-4 in their favor, but the Latvian, who signed one of the best games of his life, pulled himself together with its excellent serves and tied for third set (3-3).

First Spanish final in the Eternal City

Again Rafa had another break ball (3-4). But it was not until the tenth game when he took his grip, regained the aggression that characterized his game and was placed with three match points. Were not needed, the first was enough for planting this Sunday in the final in Rome.

Since 1930, the year in the Italian championship was born, had never hosted a typically Spanish final. If Nadal is imposed on Ferrer added his fifth title in the Eternal City