Zverev stuns Nadal to reach Madrid Open semifinals
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Madrid, May 7 (EFE).- Germany’s Alexander Zverev found some chinks in the armor of five-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday at the Madrid Open, pulling off a 6-4, 6-4 victory to book a place in that elite clay-court event’s final four.
Although the Spanish all-time great had struggled to an extent with the fast conditions at the Caja Magica in his previous match, he appeared in total control when he broke the sixth-ranked German’s serve for a 4-2 first-set lead.
But the 2018 Madrid Open champion got back on serve thanks to a pair of passing shot winners, took a 5-4 lead when Nadal double faulted and then committed an unforced error on break point, and clinched the set in his first opportunity with some potent serving in Madrid’s thin air.