Nadal Battles Past Almagro Into SFs; Keeps Alive No. 1 Dream

© Getty ImagesRafael Nadal has yet to drop a set en route to the semi-finals this year.

Four-time former champion Rafael Nadal came through his toughest test so far at Roland Garros on Wednesday, winning his seventh straight match against fellow Spaniard and No. 19 seed Nicolas Almagro with a 7-6(2), 7-6(3), 6-4 victory to extend his perfect 2010 clay-court record to 20-0.

Nadal, who celebrates his 24th birthday on Thursday, hit four aces and 34 winners for victory in two hours and 33 minutes. He won 12 of 16 points on approach to the net and converted two of six break point opportunities.

"It was a difficult match, especially from a mental standpoint," said Nadal. "I had to return well, and I had the feeling that I was not capable of playing the way I wanted because he was so powerful.... When I really needed to play my best tennis, I had the opportunity of doing that. So I'm very happy I played this match in three sets, because it was very difficult."

If the Spaniard goes on to capture his fifth title in the French capital on Sunday, he will regain No. 1 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings for the first time since June 2009. Nadal's rival Roger Federer, the defending champion, lost to No. 5 seed Robin Soderling on Tuesday evening.

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Almagro practised with 1995 Roland Garros titlist and fellow left-hander Thomas Muster prior to the match, and the former World No. 1 appeared to have inspired the Murcia resident when he surged to a 3-0 lead largely due to forehand potency and gutsy serving to save two break points in the second game. But Nadal recovered, hitting successive forehand winners for his first service break in the fifth game before levelling the scoreline at 3-3 with a hold to 30.

The pressure continued to mount on Almagro, when Nadal peppered his single-handed backhand with heavily top spun groundstrokes. At 5-5, 30/40, Almagro held his nerve to hit a forehand winner to save one break point. But four unforced errors cost the 24 year old in the tie-break, with Nadal winning four straight points from 3-2 to clinch the 58-minute opener. 

Neither player challenged on serve through the first eight games of the second set. Nadal found himself in trouble when he lost four straight points from 40/15 at 4-4, but saved a break point with a well-placed serve. Heading into a second tie-break, both players had won 76 total points. Nadal hit four straight winners to move into a 4-0 lead, which proved insurmountable for Almagro who lost the 53-minute set when he hit committed a backhand error.

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Almagro kept fighting in the pair's fifth clay-court meeting, but at the business end of the third set, Nadal set up three break point opportunities. At 4-4, 0/40, Almagro hit his second successive backhand wide to gift Nadal the break. Nadal wrapped up his 36th win in 37 matches at Roland Garros when Almagro hit a backhand wide on his second match point opportunity. It was his 21st straight victory against a fellow Spaniard (67-10 lifetime).

"During the third [set] I wanted to be more offensive because so far it was good for me," said Almagro. "Then I made mistakes, so much so, that these were the three bad points I played. That's how I lost the match, I think."

Nadal improved to a 36-4 match record on the season. The Mallorcan is attempting to become the first player to complete the "clay slam". He has already lifted three ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters (d. Verdasco), the Internazionali BNL d'Italia (d. Ferrer) and the Mutua Madrileña Madrid Open (d. Federer) in the past couple of months.

Almagro, who converted one of two break point opportunities and committed 44 unforced errors, lost his 17th consecutive match against Top 5 opposition (1-18 lifetime). The World No. 21 dropped to a 28-14 season mark.

"I wanted to finish being proud of what I did, even though I might be defeated, which is what happened," said Almagro. "I played the match I had to play. I had the right attitude throughout the match. I wanted to win; yet I couldn't. But in any case, the most important thing is that the tournament will continue. I'm on the right track."

Nadal will next challenge Austrian No. 22 seed Jurgen Melzer, who came back from a 0-2 sets deficit for the first time in his career with a 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-4 win over third-seeded Serbian Novak Djokovic.

"I saw him in the end of the match playing very aggressive, serving well," said Nadal. "So will be very difficult opponent. If he's in semi-finals, is because he's the best of his draw."