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Nadal struggles past Ferrer to reach Rome semis

Rome, May 17 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal got all he could handle Friday from countryman David Ferrer in the quarterfinals of the Rome Masters, but he managed to pull away in the third set for a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory. Nadal took an early lead with a service break in the fifth game and hung on to take the first set 6-4 despite not playing his best tennis. Then, after he squandered a couple of break points early in the second set, Ferrer started dictating the points and finishing them off consistently with forehand or volley winners.

Tennis: Nadal recovers to overcome Ferrer

Rafael Nadal avoided becoming the latest big name to be dumped out of the Madrid Masters as he recovered from a set and a break down to beat compatriot David Ferrer 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 to make the semi-finals. Ferrer is currently ahead of the 11-time Grand Slam champion in the world rankings due to Nadal's seventh month layoff in the second-half of last season and despite a poor record against his compatriot he got off to the perfect start as he broke in the 10th game of the first set to take it 6-4.

Nadal avoids upset, reaches Madrid semis

Madrid, May 10 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal narrowly avoided defeat at the Mutua Madrid Open, pulling out a 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0 win Friday over countryman David Ferrer to secure a berth in the semifinals. Ferrer had victory in his sights when his opponent, serving down 4-6, 5-6, 15-30 on the scoreboard, found himself in no man's land after an ill-advised foray to the net.

Nadal advances at Madrid Masters

Madrid, May 8 (EFE).- Spain's Rafael Nadal successfully kicked off his bid for a 40th career clay-court title, advancing to the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open with a 6-3, 6-4 victory Wednesday over Benoit Paire. The 37th-ranked Frenchman adopted an unorthodox strategy aimed at throwing off Nadal's rhythm, cutting rallies short with numerous drop shots - including 14 in the first set alone - and seeking to end points quickly with flat rockets off his backhand side.

Tennis: Ferrer, Wawrinka to clash, Pavlyuchenkova wins title

Spain's David Ferrer will play his 37th final when he and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka line up Sunday for the clay title at the Portugal Open. The top seed dispatched Italian Andreas Seppi 6-1, 6-4 in 70 minutes while Wawrinka ended the run of Spanish qualifier Pablo Carreno-Busta as the second seed posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 win in a match marred by complaints about on-court coaching from the Spaniard's box. The women's title was settled when Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Spain's Carla Suarez Navarro 7-5, 6-2 to claim her first trophy on clay.

Tennis: Ferrer in semi-finals, mourns ATP chief Drewett

Top seed David Ferrer reached the Portugal Open semi-finals on Friday before joining the tributes to ATP chief Brad Drewett who lost his brave battle against motor neurone disease. Ferrer rallied from 4-2 down in the second set to see off gritty Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-4, 7-6 (7/2). Drewett, 54, passed away earlier Friday at his home in Sydney, having made public that he was suffering from the condition only in January.

Tennis: Ferrer takes Portugal top seeding in place of Del Potro

David Ferrer has been drafted in as a late replacement for ailing Juan Martin del Potro just in time to save face for the Portugal Open as the event begins on Monday. The re-branded ATP 250 tournament, formerly the Estoril Open, got the bad news from Del Potro's agent that the Argentine was dealing with a stomach virus and would not be able to play the tournament which he won a year ago over Richard Gasquet. Ferrer, fourth in the world, will be happy for extra time on court as top seed after losing in his opening match at the Barcelona Open to Russian Dimitry Tursunov.

Nadal faces busy Friday after rain hits Barcelona Open

(Reuters) - Rafael Nadal may have to play two matches at the Barcelona Open on Friday after his third round clash against Frenchman Benoit Paire was postponed by rain on Thursday. The world number five and second seed, gunning for an eighth Barcelona title, will face Paire at 9:30 a.m. British time on Friday with either sixth seed Kei Nishikori or Albert Ramos waiting in the next round should Nadal avoid an upset.

Almagro advances to Barcelona quarters

Barcelona, Apr 25 (EFE).- Nicolas Almagro won an all-Spanish match-up Thursday at the Barcelona Open, outdueling Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the quarterfinals on a rain-soaked day. Despite putting just 49 percent of his first serves in play, Almagro managed to drop serve just once throughout the one-hour, 33-minute match. The No. 4 seed jumped out to an early lead against his countryman, who started cold but later played some solid tennis, particularly at the end of the first set and the start of the second.

Tennis: Rain ends day early with Nadal kept waiting

Spanish seed Nicolas Almagro reached the quarter-finals of the Barcelona Open on Thursday before rain wrecked more than half of the third-round programme. Second seed Rafael Nadal was due to face French 13th seed Benoit Paire but never got started due to the weather. It will now be moved to Friday though forecasts remain grim for the ensuing days, with more rain likely. In a match stranded on court, Slovak Martin Klizan leads German eighth seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1, 6-7 (2/7), 4-3.
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