Nadal reaches semis after four-hour marathon vs Navone

Spain’s Rafael Nadal. Pic/AFP

Rafael Nadal fought into the semi-finals of the Swedish Open on Friday as he defeated Argentina's Mariano Navone 6-7 (2/7), 7-5, 7-5 in three hours and 59 minutes.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion is through to the last four of a tournament for the first time since Wimbledon two years ago. "It was very close, long and tiring," said Nadal, whose near four-hour victory was the second longest three-set match of his career - after the 2009 Madrid semi-final against Novak Djokovic, which lasted 4hr 3min.

He had to overcome a poor start against the fast-rising Navone, now ranked 36th in the world after beginning the year outside the Top 100.
Nadal dropped serve three times in a row against an opponent who became the first man in the Open era to be seeded in his maiden Grand Slam appearance at this year's French Open.

The Spaniard trailed 4-1 and was down a double break but battled his way back into the set, saving two set points in the 10th game before eventually moving 6-5 ahead.

Nadal himself had two set points as Navone served to stay in it, the fourth seed showing his mettle to force a tie-break in which he won the first five points to take charge.

Navone secured the first set when Nadal sprayed a forehand wide, but the Spaniard quickly regrouped and raced into a 3-0 lead in set two.

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