Nadal, Federer set up semi-final showdown
GREAT RIVALRY The Spaniard has lost to the Swiss in their last five meetings
INDIAN WELLS: Rafael Nadal withstood the challenge of Russian Karen Khachanov to set up a blockbuster semi-final with Roger Federer at the ATP Indian Wells Masters on Friday despite a flare-up of right knee trouble that required mid-match treatment.
World No 2 Nadal, the highest seed left in the draw after the early ouster of No 1 Novak Djokovic, dominated both tiebreakers to beat the towering Russian 7-6(2), 7-6(2).
He booked a 39th career meeting with Federer, a five-time champion at Indian Wells, who breezed past 67th-ranked Hubert Hurkacz of Poland 6- 4, 6- 4. “Hopefully I will be ready for it,” said Nadal, who recovered an early break in the opening set and powered through the tiebreaker, but called f or t he trainer to have supportive tape applied below his right knee three games into the second.
“Of course my goal and my idea is to be ready for tomorrow,” he said.
Although he wasn’t moving as well, Nadal gained the first break of the second set to lead 3-2, but was immediately broken himself. He saved a set point in a fierce 10th game that went to deuce three times before Nadal held to make it 5-5. He couldn’t convert a break chance in the 1 1 t h g a me a s t hey went t o another tiebreaker which the Spaniard again controlled.
“Well, I am used to play with some issues, so I just tried to be focused and to keep hold of the situation,” said Nadal who has battled knee tendinitis and other injuries throughout his career. “It’s one of these victories today that I’m really proud of.”
Khachanov has now lost all six of his career meetings with the Spaniard.
He’ll be gunning for a chance to claim a fourth Indian Wells title while Federer is seeking to break out of a tie with Djokovic with a record sixth.
Nadal leads the head-to-head rivalry with Federer 23-15. This will be the fourth time Federer and Nadal have played at Indian Wells, with Federer winning 2 of the prior 3
Federer has won the last five matches between the two — the most recent in the 2017 Shanghai Masters final
Nadal and Federer have played eight times in the United States, with honours even at 4-4
This will be the 10th time Federer and
Nadal have met in a semi-final, with Nadal winning 6 of the prior 9
Nadal has won 17 sets more than Federer in their 38 matches (67-50) an 11-9 edge
Nadal and Federer have met 20 times on hard courts, Federer holding Federer and Nadal have played 21 tiebreakers over the course of their careers, Nadal holding an 11-10 edge in those deciders
The number of finals they have played, with 14 wins for Nadal and 10 for Federer
Federer has held in 31 straight service games against Nadal
Federer and Nadal have won 37 Grand Slam titles between them, Federer with 20, Nadal with 17
The number of ATP Masters 1000 the two have won. Nadal holds the record with 33, Federer has won 27
Weeks at world No 1 (Federer 310, Nadal 196) the two have spent atop the rankings.