Australian Open 2014: Rafael Nadal into last four but admits he was lucky against ‘Baby Fed’
Rafael Nadal is through to the last four of the Australian Open, but the world No 1 diced with danger before winning his quarter-final against Grigor Dimitrov today.
The Spaniard won 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-2 after saving three set points to prevent his Bulgarian opponent taking a two-sets-to-one lead.
Nadal, who had to deal with blisters on his left hand which caused him constant discomfort, admitted afterwards he had “got lucky” against an opponent who is regarded as one of the game’s outstanding prospects. “Baby Fed”, who owes his nickname to his Roger Federer-like style, played superbly in his first Grand Slam quarter-final and came close to pulling off a major surprise.
The latter stages of the third set were the turning point. Dimitrov failed to take a set point when Nadal served at 5-6 as he framed a return of serve. He had two more in the tie-break. On the first he hit a forehand beyond the baseline and on the second Nadal hit a winning volley. Two points later he took the set.
A thumping backhand winner down the line gave Nadal an early break in the fourth set and he went on to complete his victory with another break of serve when Dimitrov missed a forehand.
Nadal, who will now play the winner of today’s later quarter-final between Federer and Andy Murray, said afterwards that Dimitrov “has everything to become a great champion”.
