News APP

NewsApp (Free)

Read news as it happens
Download NewsApp

Available on  gplay

Home  » Sports » Nadal needs three sets to overcome teenager Dimi

Nadal needs three sets to overcome teenager Dimi

By Theo Ruizenaar
Last updated on: February 13, 2009 19:15 IST
Get Rediff News in your Inbox:

World number one Rafael Nadal needed three sets to beat Bulgarian teenager Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 on Thursday and reach the quarter-finals of the World Indoor Tournament.

Nadal broke the 17-year-old Dimitrov in the first game but allowed him back on terms before he took the set after another break in the 11th game.

Dimitrov conquered the hearts of the 9,000 spectators as he won the second set but in the third Nadal proved too strong.

"He played very well today and has a lot of talent. He can be a top-10 player," Nadal told reporters after his second three-setter in Rotterdam in two days.

World number four Andy Murray recovered from a slow start to beat Italian baseliner Andreas Seppi 7-6, 7-5 in the second round.

"It was a difficult start, with too many mistakes and double faults but it improved in the second set," the Briton told reporters.

Second seed Murray, who cruised past Ivan Ljubicic in the opening round, varied his game more against Seppi in a match containing several long rallies.

"It was completely different from the first round but the long rallies on a fast court like this gave me back my rhythm," said the Scot.

Murray next meets 'lucky loser' Marc Gicquel, who came into the tournament after the withdrawal of Robin Soderling.

Gicquel reached the last eight by defeating fellow-Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-4, 6-3.

Croatian Mario Ancic avenged his third-round defeat at the Australian Open by eliminating fourth-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, setting up a quarter-final with 2007 winner Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.

Michael Llodra, the 2008 champion, was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by fellow-Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Get Rediff News in your Inbox:
Theo Ruizenaar
Source: REUTERS
© Copyright 2024 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.

Paris Olympics 2024

India's Tour Of Australia 2024-25