Rafael Nadal retained second place in the
men's tennis rankings on Saturday when he outlasted challenger Novak Djokovic
7-5, 2-6, 6-2 in the Hamburg Masters semi-finals.
The third-ranked Serb Djokovic blew a 3-0 lead in the first set and wasted
eight break points in the third of a classy match which lasted three hours
three minutes under the closed centre court roof on a rainy afternoon.
In the final, Spain's Nadal will again face world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland, who crushed unseeded Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-1 in the other semi-final.
Federer beat Nadal in the 2007 decider for a fourth Hamburg crown, his only win
on clay over his long-time rival who leads their series 9-6.
Nadal beat Federer for the Monte Carlo Masters three weeks ago and takes an
amazing 106-2 record on clay since April 2005 into Sunday's final.
Nadal's world ranking came under threat from Djokovic as the Serb is the
hottest player in 2008 with titles at the Australian Open, Indian Wells and the
Rome Masters last Sunday.
Djokovic started in strong fashion as he raced off to a 3-0 lead and held two
break points for 4-0. Nadal, however, finally got into the game, tied at 3-3
and broke again for 5-4.
He then faltered as the match was tied again at 5-5, but broke again for 6-5
and wrapped up the set in the 12th game with a cross-country forehand winner.
Djokovic regrouped and levelled the sets with four unanswered games after
saving a break point at 2-2.
But Nadal countered with a break for 1-0 in the final set, and Djokovic's frustration grew when he wasted two break points in the second and fourth game.
Nadal broke again for 5-2 and then won on his fifth match point, after saving
another four break points, when Djokovic's drop shot ended in the net.
Nadal raised his arms into the air in delight and both players embraced at the
net. Nadal got his seventh win in 10 meetings with Djokovic and has won all
four on clay.
While both players had 31 winners, Nadal kept his unforced errors to 23 while
Djokovic had 43. Djokovic's next chance to get second place comes at the French
Open which start next week Sunday.
Federer took 1:18 hours to beat Seppi and could have even wrapped up matters
sooner had he not converted just one of eight break points in the first set.
The Swiss fired 26 winners to Seppi's 18.
"It was a long first set. I created many opportunities. I think I wore him
out and set it up for the second set," said Federer.
"It is good to be in the Hamburg final again, it is good for the
confidence ahead of the French Open," Federer said.
Hamburg is Federer's best Masters event. Another win Sunday will be sweet for
him as he has only won the small tournament of Estoril in the buildup to the
French Open, the only Grand Slam he hasn't won.
"Maybe I am a touch better than last year. I feel a bit more ready for Paris," he said, according to dpa.
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