The Hindu : Sport : How to beat Nadal? Ask Blake

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Tuesday, Nov 14, 2006
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How to beat Nadal? Ask Blake

PHOTO: AP

TOUGH GUY: James Blake of the U.S. worked Rafael Nadal of Spain around the baseline to win in straight sets in the Gold Group of the Tennis Masters Cup in Shanghai on Monday.

SHANGHAI: James Blake showed the world's elite tennis players how to beat Rafael Nadal.

Blake — ranked eighth — the last player to qualify for the Tennis Masters Cup, beat No. 2 Nadal 6-4, 7-6(0) on Monday in his first appearance at the season-ending tournament.

Blake extended his unbeaten streak in ATP events against Nadal to three matches, remaining the only player in the elite eight-man field with a winning record over the 20-year-old Spaniard.

It was tough though, as he came back from 0-4 in the second set and then broke when Nadal was serving at 5-4.

In the later match, No. 3 Nikolay Davydenko beat No. 6 Tommy Robredo 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-1. Davydenko got the decisive break in the fourth game of the third set when his Spanish rival had a double-fault at breakpoint.

Confidence

Yet it was his confidence to keep going for some high-risk, low-percentage options on the big points that was the key.

``You don't beat him by playing conservatively,'' said Blake, who worked Nadal around the baseline and pounded winners off his forehand and backhand.

Asked his secret against Nadal, who beat No. 1 Roger Federer in a final for four of five titles this year, Blake was hardly forthcoming.

``I don't have any specific advice for any other player how to beat Nadal,'' he said. ``People have been saying how big I was hitting the ball, but when you think about it, you really have to go for your shots.

``He's so fast and plays defence so well that it's tough.''

After coming back from a break down to win the first set, Blake won only four points in the opening four games of the second before rallying to draw level at 4-4.

Nadal, returning from a stomach injury that forced him out of the recent Paris Masters, responded with another break of serve.

He was leading 5-4 and 30-15 when he double-faulted, giving Blake another opening. Blake seized on the chance, winning the next seven points for a 6-5 lead.

Into tie-break

Nadal forced the tie-breaker by holding serve in the next game, but did not score another point. He made a double-fault to give Blake six matchpoints.

The 26-year-old American only needed one, clinching the match with a forehand winner down the line.

Blake qualified for the season-ending event after compiling his best season — 56-23 with five titles — and finishing in the top 10 for the first time.

French Open champion Nadal was also making his first appearance and was 57-10 for the season heading into the Masters Cup. He qualified for the 2005 tournament but withdrew because of an injured left foot.

Honour for Federer

Before the start of proceedings on Monday, Federer was presented with the Champions Race Trophy for finishing the year at No. 1 for a third straight season.

``Another fantastic year is almost over — I have one more week to go,'' he said. ``I'm happy to be back after last year, when I had all the trouble with my foot.''

The results:

Gold Group: Singles: James Blake (U.S.) bt Rafael Nadal (Esp) 6-4, 7-6(0); Nikolay Davydenko (Rus) bt Tommy Robredo (Esp) 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-1.

Doubles (round robin): Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) & Max Mirnyi (Bel) bt Mariusz Fyrstenberg & Marcin Matkowski (Pol) 6-3, 6-4; Mark Knowles (Bah) & Daniel Nestor (Can) bt Fabrice Santoro (Fra) & Nenad Zimonjic (Seg) 6-3, 6-2. — AP

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