Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 11 May 2017
Nadal jury. Wednesday’s match year.
was his first since splitting Fognini had three career
Continued from previous Page with longtime coach Mar- wins over Nadal, including
ian Vajda. one in the 2015 U.S. Open,
The second-seeded Nadal had a tough start but had lost the last three in
Djokovic will play veteran against Fognini, needing to straight sets.q
Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, save 10 of 12 break points Fifth-seeded Milos Raonic
who got past Gilles Simon conceded to the Italian in of Canada defeated Gilles
of France 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (3). the first set alone. Fognini Muller of Luxemburg 6-4,
Djokovic cruised in the first served for the set at 5-4 but 6-4, while sixth-seeded Kei
set by breaking the 76th- was not able to capitalize Nishikori of Japan recov-
ranked Almagro three on his chance. He threw his ered from a slow start to
times. The Spanish wild racket on the ground three beat Diego Schwartzman
card entrant rallied in front times in a row after losing of Argentina 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.
of the home crowd in the a decisive point in the tie- Nishikori, a finalist in Madrid
second set, saving all four breaker. in 2014, is playing in his first
break points he conced- It was the 11th straight win tournament since March.
ed and breaking at 4-5 Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after defeating Fabio Fognini for Nadal, and his tour- He withdrew from Barce-
of Italy during a Madrid Open tennis tournament match in
to eventually extend the Madrid, Wednesday, May 10, 2017. leading 30th victory for the lona last month because of
match. Associated Press year. The fifth-ranked Span- a right wrist injury.
Almagro was two points iard has won 22 of his last “In the beginning I wasn’t
away from going up 4-2 dence level,” Djokovic “I’m still finding my way to 24 sets. playing 100 percent,” Ni-
in the final set but was not said. “So to win the match- that consistency level and “Even though I played re- shikori said. “But in the sec-
able to capitalize on his es like this definitely helps quality of tennis that I’m ally badly, my attitude has ond and third (sets) I was
chances. confidence.” looking for,” Djokovic said. been very positive,” Nadal feeling pretty good on the
It was an important open- Djokovic won in Doha to “I’m aware that I’m not said. “My attitude and the court, moving well, so I was
ing-round win for the start the season but never playing at my best, but I’m will to win today’s match very happy.”
second-ranked Djokovic made it past the quarter- definitely believing in my- was there. My level of ten- Nishikori will play in the
as he tries to turn his sea- finals in the following four self and the process. Even- nis was not so high today, third round against Span-
son around and regain his tournaments he played. tually the game will come but I managed to make it iard David Ferrer, who ad-
form going into the French In his first clay-court tour- together. I can take a lot of through.” vanced after 10th-seed-
Open later this month. nament, in Monte Carlo, positives from today.” Nadal was coming off titles ed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of
“When you’re not winning Djokovic was eliminated Djokovic had his playing in Monte Carlo and Bar- France withdrew before
too many matches, you by David Goffin in quarter- time diminished this year celona and had made it the match because of a
have to build the confi- finals. because of an elbow in- to three finals earlier in the shoulder injury.q