CAMELOT FANTASIES

Rafa had to survive 30 winners but got it done in straights anyway:





RIO OPEN PRESENTED BY CLARO 2015 

Nadal Reaches Rio QFs; Fognini Advances

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

by ATP Staff
  | 19.02.2015
 

Delbonis
© ATP/Peter Staples

Federico Delbonis celebrates after reaching his first quarter-final since July.

Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal defeated compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 6-3 on Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals at the Rio Open presented by Claro.

In the first meeting between the two Spaniards, Carreno Busta fired a forehand to break Nadal and take a 3-2 lead in the first set. After a lengthy game, Nadal broke back for 3-all.

The Mallorca native later earned three set points on Carreno Busta’s serve, but the 23 year old saved all three to hold for 5-all. Nadal earned set points again on Carreno Busta’s serve and finally capitalised to win the first set in 73 minutes.

In the second set, Nadal saved both break points faced and capitalised on his own one chance as he went on to clinch the victory in just over two hours. The World No. 3 hit 22 winners and survived 30 from his opponent. He will next face sixth seed Pablo Cuevas.

Cuevas, who lifted his third ATP World Tour trophy on Sunday at the Brasil Open 2015 (d. Vanni), beat veteran Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-2 in 69 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

"Montanes is a great player on this surface; the famous 'Old Fox'," said Cuevas, who levelled the FedEx ATP Head2Head series against the Spaniard, 3-3. "He definitely was a difficult opponent. I am confident. I was able to play the same as I’ve been doing for the last days, and I was able to prevail in the match. I am happy.



"If my rival is Nadal, it is going to be the first time I face him," he said. "I am in a good moment. I will try to enjoy the match and continue to play the same as I been doing and I wish I can continue with the streak."

Earlier, fourth seed Fabio Fognini defeated Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-2 for a spot in the quarter-finals.

 The 27 year old saved three match points to defeat Jiri Vesely in his first round win on Tuesday, but faced less of a struggle against his Spanish opponent on Thursday.

Fognini saved five of six break points faced, and was only broken once when serving for the match. But the Italian broke right back to secure the win in 71 minutes. He will next face Federico Delbonis, who converted six of his 13 break points for a 6-2, 6-1 win over eighth seed Martin Klizan.

The Argentine won back-to-back tour-level matches for the first time since reaching the Stuttgart quarter-finals in July.

"Victories always give you confidence," said Delbonis. "I was working properly, but victories didn’t come this year. It was just a question of focus and continuing to work as I was because results will come."