BASTAD, Sweden: Rafael Nadal fought into the semi-finals of the Bastad Open on Friday as he defeated Argentina´s Mariano Navone 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 7-5 in three hours and 59 minutes.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is through to the last four of a tournament for the first time since Wimbledon two years ago. "It was very close, long and tiring," said Nadal, whose near four-hour victory was the second longest three-set match of his career -- after the 2009 Madrid semi-final against Novak Djokovic, which lasted 4hr 3min.
"For moments he was in control. For moments I was in control. At the end, no one was in control. That´s the truth," added Nadal. "I was able to hold physically till the end. Let´s see how I am tomorrow. Today I´m alive and I´m in the semi-finals. So that´s super important."
Nadal had to overcome a poor start against the fast-rising Navone, now ranked 36th in the world after beginning the year outside the top 100. He dropped serve three times in a row against an opponent who became the first man in the Open era to be seeded in his maiden Grand Slam appearance at this year´s French Open.
The Spaniard trailed 4-1 and was down a double break but battled his way back into the set, saving two set points in the 10th game before eventually moving 6-5 ahead. Nadal himself had two set points as Navone served to stay in it, the fourth seed showing his mettle to force a tie-break in which he won the first five points to take charge.
Navone secured the first set when Nadal sprayed a forehand wide, but the Spaniard quickly regrouped and raced into a 3-0 lead in set two. His advantage was swiftly erased though by Navone who pocketed four games on the spin before Nadal stopped the rot.
