ATP News : 2005


Nadal produces tiebreak miracle to stride past Stepanek

Madrid (dpa) - Spain's Rafael Nadal achieved a minor tennis miracle Friday night with a quarter-final win over Radek Stepanek 7-6 (9), 6-4 at the Masters Series Madrid.

After overcoming an injury scare that could have compromised his entry into the home event -he remains the last Spaniard in the field - Nadal was taking no chances with his delicate knee. The Roland Garros champion played and won wearing a pair of elastic braces from the holy Catholic shrine city of Lourdes, France, on both legs.

"Of course, they come from Lourdes and are touched by Lourdes water," said the teenage world No. 2. "They are not miraculous, but they soothe the pain."

Nadal admitted to a mental lapse while leading 6-2 in the opening-set tiebreaker against the Czech. It took a battle before the Spaniard lifted the opener on his sixth chance. "I felt suddenly I was losing the match, when I was one point from winning," he admitted. "I made a forehand on the line, I was brave. That was the victory of the tiebreak." He admitted he was "a bit unfocused at 6-2."

Nadal's win means he is now equals rival Roger Federer with 77 matches to his name this season. The Swiss is out of action for the next few weeks with ankle ligament damage. "I'm proud, it was a very, very tough match," said Nadal. "I knew before I started that Stepanek is a very uncomfortable opponent who gives you no rhythm."

Nadal will play Saturday against Robby Ginepri, who put out Spain's David Ferrer 6-1, 6-4 to continue a 2005 comeback season and stay in the chase for the season-ending Masters Cup in Shanghai.

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