indian wells

Nadal's opponent in the semifinals of the California desert will be the Argentine Del Potro, who today won a spot in the semifinal after the withdrawal through injury of Spanish Tommy Robredo.

A heroic Rafa Nadal qualified for the semifinals at Indian Wells dying to knock on a gunboat Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7), in two hours and 23 minutes of a match of high level which both players at times took the best of his repertoire.

Nadal beat Karlovic, the world number 239, despite 23 points from ace achieved by the Croatian.

The first set was running like a perfect gear ritual, each player held on to serve and not allow any interference. The games were falling one by one for each tie it up with five, Karlovic, a player of 2.08 meters, surprised the Spanish with a white game and break of serve.

The Spaniard saved a ball set but could not take the Croatian rush with a stunning kick that surprised everyone with his superb defense and powerful punches from the bottom of the track.

In the second set, Nadal, anger, unleashed its fury and wiped out his opponent with two breaks of serve and a set of many carats to enjoy the nearly 10,000 people who gathered in the central Indian Wells, in one night peaceful and hardly any wind in the Californian desert.

Final set ran through the same channels as the first. Premium is prudence and calm on the part of both very safe at all times with their service. Equality was to reach a tie-break final started in an excellent place to Nadal with a break of serve.

That began to flourish nerves and both players committed unforced errors as delicate, but Nadal was able to better manage the situation. With 8-7 for Spanish and service for Karlovic came the surrender of the Croatian tower and the exaltation of its rival.

Minutes earlier, Nadal, at a turning point, and clenched his fist with the knee up, in a characteristic gesture full of energy and rage. It was a sign of victory.

Comfortable win for Nadal to Voest Rik: 6-0, 6-2. Verdasco also won, Montanes, Robredo and Almagro. In girls won and fell Maria Jose Martinez and Anabel Medina Laura Pous.

Day of surprises in Indian Wells Masters 1000 first season with the defeat of the defending champion, Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Murray, while the Spanish Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco move on in the competition.

Nadal, world number one, broke Fast Track by South African Rik De Voest 6-0, 6-2 in one hour mark, while Verdasco also reached the third round to beat the Lithuanian Richard Verankis 7-5, 2-0, after his opponent retired injured with back problems.

"My opponent probably played a little more nervous than usual. For this reason you may not out of those games where I had to play my best tennis. I can not tell if I played well or not. I did what I had to win, "Nadal said.

Also, Albert Montanes beat Finn Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (2), in two hours and 26 minutes, Tommy Robredo did the same with German Mischa Zverev, 6-3 , 3-6, 7-5 in two hours and 18 minutes, and Nicolas Almagro beat the American Michael Russell 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 19 minutes.

On the other hand Ljubicic was the victim of Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, who won in three sets, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, in two hours and 38 minutes of play. "I feel bad for beating the defending champion, and of course is a good win in my back," said del Potro. "I played good tennis. I was focused the whole game and try to take every opportunity. I think I played better than him, and that was the key," he said.

Ljubicic, 31, who has recently passed a sore right ankle, said he was not back by a "matching easy." "He's a great player and was a great game. Played some great points and I failed at the end, "he said.

Andy Murray fell against the U.S. by Donald Young 7-6 (4), 6-3 in one hour and 34 minutes in the biggest win of his career. "I've been in this situation a couple of times and never won. I just said I would not let nerves control me," said Young.

The Briton admitted to not having played his best tennis. "Towards the end of the first set, I did nothing particularly well, "he said. Other surprises of the day were the defeat of Spanish David Ferrer against Croatian Ivo Karlovic, by 7-6 (3), 6-3, and the Argentinian Juan Monaco against American Ryan Sweeting, for 6 -1, 0-6 and 6-1 in one hour and 45 minutes. Sweeting will be the next opponent for Nadal.

In the women stressed the victories of Maria Jose Martinez to the Romanian Simona Halep, 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 28 minutes, while Laura Pous-Tio could not beat Australia's Samantha Stosur, to whom he gave a double 6-2 in one hour and six minutes.

Also sold face Anabel Medina losing to Russian Maria Sharapova, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 6-1 in two hours and 57 minutes. The Spanish took the second set after saving two match points of his rival, but fizzled in the last race.

Rafa will not defend the title last year and therefore the 1,000 points in the world • The Balearic clasificaciÑon was higher than the points, but missed the key moments of the game • The kick decant Ljubicic was instrumental in his side's match

Ivan Ljubicic stunned all and sundry to beat Rafael Nadal in the semifinals of the 1000 Indian Wells Masters (USA) in a clash in which shows the Spaniard gave her two faces: the good and the bad feelings. The wind and the Croatian canyon were too many barriers to Nadal, who will not defend her title in the California desert, scepter that will be handed the winner of the duel that measures to Ljubicic and Andy Roddick, winner Robin Soderling.

Ivan Ljubicic beat Rafael Nadal for a 6-3 aggregate score, 4-6, 7-6 (1) after two hours and thirty - four minutes played in a crash on the cement of the Center Court of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The game started in the best possible way for Nadal. He won the initial draw, Ljubicic who chose to go first serve and broke the throw to first exchange. The wind, as has happened throughout the week at Indian Wells, was again a protagonist in the Center Court, where he was blowing sideways and uncomfortable to both players, both serving as the rest. One example is the opener, where the Croatian committed two double faults that eventually cost him a break against. Rafa problems also had to grease his drive, which had to give more power to be effective effect. The Spaniard, ahead on the scoreboard from the first bars, knew how to manage time, leaving for the master strokes of periodicals, on the table showing the variety of publicly announced and knowing repertoire adapted to the peculiar circumstances of play. There were no major rallies, even pace to hold on, and before I finished the first act highlights was a game that Nadal signed blank and another serving the rest, in that point and he followed.

After the break, the respectable two manuals could enjoy playing different but equally effective. Ljubicic chose continue with the match options in mustering a great service, making up with aces payroll of unforced errors. Rafa, meanwhile, presented a repertoire of unbelievable right and Nadal made in passings, showing electric pace and intelligent. The Spaniard had four balls break in the sixth game (a 0-40 inclusive), but let out. When the game got tense, Rafa made rulings to destabilized, even to give his service game in the ninth game. This situation grew to Ljubicic, who beat then flat and hard. Croat trembled at the pulse of time to close the set in their favor and forced the third and final.

The mood of Nadal hit nearly cost him dearly. He had gone from playing high even taste noticeable at the track, seeing as he did larger rival. Ljubicic is not only about the second set, but found favor with a break in the opening game early in the third act. However, Rafa is great both physically and mentally and it showed again. He signed a contrabreak that undermined the morale of the Croatian, who was even crashing his racket against the ground under the threat of a warning. The game was balanced, because neither players risked more than its rival. And the party, doing justice, it was decided in the tie-break. In the tiebreaker, Ljubicic was the one who was faithful to his style, since Rafa came to despair after hitting again and again before the Croatian wall. Ljubicic, after more than two hours of play, managed to materialize the surprise of the day and seal his move to the final.

The final against Roddick

After this defeat, Nadal will travel to Miami, where, from next week will face the ultimate test on hard court before the start of the clay court season. Meanwhile, Ivan Ljubicic returns to relive old times and the title will be played at Indian Wells to Andy Roddick, who beat Sweden's Robin Soderling 6-4 3-6 6-3 in one hour 46 minutes.

Roddick, who scored 12 points direct kick, stepped up its sleeve decisive Lost 2-0 and did not sag, making his powerful serve the best weapon to beat Soderling, who won Friday in the semifinals to Andy Murray.

On his next match against Croatian Ivan Ljubicic said: "He's playing well and will be a tough match. I'm playing too well. I shall do my best to try to reach the final,"

Rafael Nadal, a semifinalist at Indian Wells Masters 1000 first season, said after his victory over Czech Tomas Berdych who, although he has not won many tournaments in recent months, feels it's "best player".

"Although I have not won much in recent months, I think I am better player than before, "said Spanish at the press conference after the match." I improved the backhand, the volley ... I have more resources at the track, "he added.

"It was a very good match. I played very well, especially in the first set. The first eight or nine games were an incredible level, but then did a bit of wind and proved more difficult to play," said the Spaniard. "It's very good news to be in the semis," he added.

For the Mallorcan the key game was at the end points of sudden death in the second set: "He played very good points in his favor 3-1 in the tie-break, he could do nothing against the wind. But I gave him the back and have the wind at your back in those moments is almost decisive. I played aggressively and decisively, and that was key. "

He also referred to his serve, one of the less glamorous aspects of his game: "I'm serving better than in the past year and a half. Always attempt to improve the serve but I know it's hard for me, I'll keep working hard and continue to do every day and every year until the end of my career, "he admitted.