Nadal struggles into Brazil Open final
Rafael Nadal struggled into the Brazil Open final on Saturday by
downing Argentine lucky loser Martin Alund in three sets and later said
he was handicapped by nagging knee pain.
The former world number one, who is recovering from a left knee
injury, battled hard to dismiss his 27-year-old opponent, who is ranked
111 in the world, winning 6-3, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1 in nearly two hours.
Sunday's final will pit the 26-year-old Spanish star against
Argentine David Nalbandian, who whipped Italian Simone Bolelli 6-3, 7-5
in 85 minutes in the other semi-final.
It will be Nadal's second singles final since his comeback from a
seven-month absence due his left knee injury and then illness. Last
week, he competed in the Vina del Mar Open in Chile, losing the singles
and doubles finals. At a post-match press conference, Nadal said that
while he was physically prepared for tomorrow's final, "my knee is not".
"I don't think I am the favorite at all. The conditions are much more
favorable for David (Nalbandian)," he said. "I still have discomfort.
Today the knee did not respond well.
And in those circumstances, not being able to move well, to attack
the ball, it will be very difficult." "I am going to do what I can...
But I think it is going to be a very complicated match for me." The
31-year-old Nalbandian, a former world number three who now languishes
in 93rd place in the ATP rankings, has also been plagued with injuries.
He withdrew from the 2012 US Open due to a strained muscle in his
chest. In Saturday's semi-final, Alund more than held his own against
Nadal, prevailing in the second set before the world number five stepped
on the gas and sealed his victory with a masterful performance in the
decisive third set.
The duel between Nadal and Nalbandian will come immediately after the
doubles final, which will pit the pair of Czech Frantisek Cermak and
Slovak Michal Martinak against Austrian Alexander Peya and Brazilian
Bruno Soares.
Nadal, who has 11 Grand Slam titles under his belt, won the Brazil
Open in 2005, when it was held in Costa do Sauipe in eastern Bahia
state. Last year, the tournament was moved to Sao Paulo.
The Brazil Open is part of the Latin American clay court swing, along
with the Vina del Mar event and the Mexico Open, in Acapulco, where
Nadal plans to compete later this month.
The three low-profile Latin American events are routinely ignored by
the world's top three players -- Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Andy
Murray.
AFP
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