RAFAEL NADAL TO PLAY MARDY FISH IN US OPEN 08 QUARTER FINALS

Rafa illustrating his desire and passion in Round 4
Photo credit: Daylife

Rafael Nadal hangs on against USA's Sam Querry in the US Open fourth round on Labor Day.

6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (Tie break 7-2), 6-3

Photo credit: Jeff Haynes/Reuters

Sam Querrey
Photo credit: Getty Images

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Rafa spotlighted on CBS TV channel
This was shown prior to the Round 4 match with Sam Querrey.
Uploaded by marylay77

Nadal battles into quarter-finals

Top seed Rafael Nadal secured a place in the quarter-finals of the US Open with a 6-2, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 win over American Sam Querrey on Monday.

Chasing his first US Open title, Nadal made light work of the first set but found himself under pressure in the second and a string of unforced errors showed he was not invincible.

The 20-year-old American used his powerful forehand to take advantage of some uncharacteristic mistakes by Nadal on his trademark forehand. Though he lost his own serve twice, Querrey broke the world number one three times to take the set.

Buoyed by the home crowd, Querrey was going for his shots and hitting winners, while the French Open and Wimbledon champion pulled back on his serve and seemed to be tighter on his groundstrokes than usual.

After taking the third, Nadal seemed back in charge in the fourth, dragging a weary Querrey in long rallies to win a break in the sixth game.

But Querrey refused to give up, creating seven break points in a nail-biting seventh game that Nadal had to dig deep to survive.
Survive he did, taking the match with a crushing overhead shot.

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Slideshow created at Photo bucket of Rafael Nadal
Round 4
Rafa fought to win 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (tie break 7-2), 6-3
September 1
US Open 2008
against a worthty opponent in USA's Sam Querrey.
Photo credits: Elsa/Getty, AP, Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, Jeff Haynes/Reuters, Shaun Best/Reuters, Daylife, RTE Sport, AFP Timothy A Clary/Getty

Nadal tested at US Open, reaches quarterfinals

By BEN WALKER,

Source

NEW YORK (AP) Rafael Nadal withstood his first test at this U.S. Open, shifting into another gear to beat Sam Querrey 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3 Monday and match his best result at the tournament that's always bedeviled him.

Playing for the sixth year at Flushing Meadows, the No. 1 Nadal rallied to reach the quarterfinals. He got quite a workout - and a scare - from his unseeded, 20-year-old opponent.

"Very tough," Nadal said. "Sam is a big player, a big server. He has a great future."

Down 6-5 in the third set, Nadal suddenly flashed the form that won at Wimbledon, the French Open and the Olympics. Hitting harder, grunting louder and moving in closer, he quickly forced a tiebreaker and jumped to celebrate.

Nadal won the final four points to take the tiebreaker and later served out the match.

Ranked 55th, Querrey gave a solid show and became the first player to take a set from Nadal at this Open.

Crowds at Arthur Ashe Stadium love to root for underdogs, especially Americans. The fans in his private box were vocal, particularly the three who had their shirts off and spelled out S-A-M on their chests.

A bit jittery at the start, the 6-foot-6 Querrey boomed 20 aces and showed no fear, trading big shots with Nadal all match long. He drew a standing ovation at the end for his effort, and smiled broadly.

"Came up a little short. The guy's too good," Querrey said.

Nadal next plays unseeded Mardy Fish, who reached the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open for the first time with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 win over No. 32 Gael Monfils.

Rafa had an untypical game with his errors and forehand today:

Fourth Round

Rafael Nadal (1) def. Sam Querrey, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-3

Nadal Querrey

1st Serve Percentage 66 58

Aces 5 20

Double Faults 6 8

1st Serve Winning Pct. 72 76

2nd Serve Winning Pct. 49 38

Winners (including service) 37 52

Unforced Errors 41 50

Break Points 6-12 4-16

Net Points 27-34 26-42

Total Points Won 135 123

Time of Match 3:13

Source

Djokovic needed nearly four hours to get past Cilic

6-7 (7), 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 (0) Sunday night.

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