Rafael Nadal is through to the Australian Open semi-finals after defeating Gilles Simon in straight sets. The No 1 seed beat the French sixth seed 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 to set up a match against Fernando Verdasco, his fellow Spaniard, on Friday.
Nadal broke Simon's serve three times in the first set and survived a set point to reach the last four for the second successive year. Last year he was beaten at that stage by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who lost to Verdasco earlier today.
"For us it's an incredible feat to have two Spanish players in the semi-final. One is going to be in the final so we have to be very happy with that," Nadal said.
"Verdasco is playing very well since he won the Davis Cup. He was in the final in Brisbane and he beat [Andy] Murray so I know it's going to be a very tough match."
Nadal, 22, broke in the first game and again at 3-1 before Simon took a break of serve of his own. But he manoeuvred his opponent expertly around the court for the third break and served the set out with an ace.
Simon double-faulted to go a break down early in the second set but hung in and broke back thanks to a stunning winner at the end of a 30-shot rally.
Momentum was shifting but Nadal regained it as he survived a set point at 4-5 then brilliantly broke in the next game, helped by a full-stretch running forehand that curled down the line.
Simon secured the first break of the third set with an overhead smash but Nadal broke back and again for 6-5 after another lengthy rally. He then calmly served out to win.
"At the decisive moments he was far better than me," Simon said. "He saved so many break points. Every time I had a chance he played better than me and hit a winner.
"He was just too good. I had a set point but I had no chance, because he played a good serve, and then he hit that forehand. There was nothing I could do."
Roger Federer, the No 2 seed, plays Andy Roddick on Thursday in the other semi-final. The final is on Sunday.
source: the london times
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