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QATAR EXXONMOBIL OPEN 2012

Nadal Tested By Kohlschreiber In Season Debut

Doha, Qatar

by ATP Staff

 | 

03.01.2012

Nadal© AFP/Getty ImagesRafael Nadal battled past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3 in his season debut Tuesday in Doha.

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal was forced to play three sets in his 2012 ATP World Tour season debut Tuesday, but came away with a 6-3, 6-7(2), 6-3 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha. "I'm very happy about my level," stated Nadal. "I think I played a very good first set. The only moment that I didn't play well was the beginning of the second and after the tie-break. For the rest [of the match], I think I played solid."

After winning the first set, Nadal fell behind 1-4 before winning three straight games to even the second set. The two battled their way into a tie-break, and it was Kohlschreiber who grabbed an early mini-break, closing the 'breaker out with ease to send the match to a deciding third set.

Kohlschreiber broke to begin the final set, but was unable to maintain his advantage, dropping serve in the ensuing game. Nadal converted a second break to move ahead 3-1, and finished off the match with a routine service game to take the hard-fought meeting in two hours and 33 minutes. "He can play at a very high level," Nadal said. "He has fantastic shots. His serve worked very well for him in moments today, [as well as] his return. Sometimes I felt that I was serving okay, and sometimes his return was very fast. So it was difficult."

The Spaniard, who improved to a perfect 8-0 record against Kohlschreiber with the win, is bidding to lift his first trophy at the event in his fifth appearance. He finished runner-up to Nikolay Davydenko in 2010.

Nadal advances to play Denis Gremelmayr. The German qualifier dismissed Potito Starace 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 13 minutes.

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