2009: Resilient Nadal Saves 5 Match Factors En Route To Indian Wells Crown No. 2
Coming off an exciting Grand Slam closing victory over Roger Federer on the 2009 Australian Open and maiden title in Melbourne, Rafael Nadal entered Indian Wells in 2009 because the participant to beat on Tour.
However regardless of his spectacular run of kind heading into the match, Nadal discovered himself getting ready to elimination early within the match. The Spaniard discovered himself down 3-6, 3-5, serving 30-40 within the fourth spherical to David Nalbandian. From down match level, Nadal would go on to provide considered one of his most iconic Indian Wells moments.
Nadal remained composed, hitting a ferocious forehand that introduced the sport to deuce. That may be the primary of 5 match factors Nadal would save, together with 4 in that recreation alone. He battled again and received the second set on a tiebreaker, and capitalized on his momentum with a roaring crowd behind him to win the third set with out dropping a recreation.
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Regardless of his extended battle with Nalbandian into the thick of the desert evening, Nadal was firing from the beginning in opposition to his subsequent opponent, Juan Martin Del Potro. He broke Del Potro’s serve early in each units on his option to a 6-2, 6-4 victory, sustaining his monitor of by no means dropping a set to the Argentinian. He confronted Andy Roddick within the semifinal, who posed an even bigger menace down the stretch however nonetheless did not win a set over the Spaniard, who received 6-4, 7-6(4) to advance to the ultimate.
Nadal met Andy Murray within the closing on a day the place swirling desert winds performed a big issue. Regardless of the turbulence, Nadal cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 victory, handing the 21-year-old Scotsman considered one of his hardest defeats of his early profession. Nadal had prevailed in Tennis Paradise as soon as once more, this time dropping only one set alongside the best way.