Nadal braced for ‘complex’ Djokovic in 52nd meeting

LONDON: Rafael Nadal described long-time rival Novak Djokovic as “one of the more complex” players he’s ever met as they prepare to clash for the 52nd time on Friday with a Wimbledon final spot at stake.

Nadal won a breathless Wimbledon quarter-final against Juan Martin del Potro on Wednesday. Nadal sealed the marathon contest 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 that took him into the semi-finals for the first time since 2011.

World number one Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion here, trails Djokovic, the 2011, 2014 and 2015 winner, 26-25 in a rivalry which began at Roland Garros 12 years ago. Along the way, they have fought out a series of epic battles including Djokovic’s 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 7-5 Australian Open final victory in 2012.

At five hours and 53 minutes, it was the longest final ever at a Slam. The following year, Nadal downed the Serb, who was world number one at the time, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7 in the semi-finals in Paris, this time in four hours and 37 minutes.

“It’s always a big challenge to face Novak. He is one of the more complex players that I ever saw in our sport. You know that you can’t win against him if you don’t play very well, ” said Nadal.

In another semi-final Kevin Anderson will face John Isner, who reached his first Grand Slam final beating Milos Raonic 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 6-4, 6-3. NOTTINGHAM: A listless England were hurtling towards defeat in the opening match of the one-day series at Trent Bridge on Thursday. In stark contrast to their dazzling show against Australia in their last game here, it was a day when nothing went right for the home team.

After Kuldeep Yadav again exposed England’s limitations against spin bowling to bundle them out for 268, Rohit Sharma (batting 75, 65 balls) and Virat Kohli (batting 52, 58 balls) cashed in on the easy conditions to take India to 169 for one after 25 overs.

After picking a five-wicket haul in the first T20 at Old Trafford, Kuldeep again terrorised the batsmen with his bag of tricks to claim a six-wicket haul (10-025-6). It was an embarrassment

POOR RESPONSE

In stark contrast to India’s inspired bowling effort, the England players bowled like profligate billionaires to allow India an easy start to their chase. Shikhar Dhawan was fed with a series of loose balls on the leg-side and the left-handed batsman helped himself to eight easy boundaries. He set the tone for India’s chase by taking three fours off the second over.

The opener threw it away when he needlessly gave the charge to spinner Moeen Ali to be out for 40 (27 balls). But Rohit and Virat were in cracking form,