Rafael Nadal in 2012 Australian Open final

Friday, January 27th, 2012 at 9:50 am , filed under Weekend Column by Davis Robinson

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The 10-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal has once again thrashed his greatest rival former World No. 1 Roger Federer at the Australian Open semi final in Rod Laver Arena on Thursday night.

The World No. 2 Rafael Nadal has begun the new season in 2012 Qatar Open at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. Spaniard, who has suffered stunning defeat by the former World No. 7 Gael Monfils of France in two sets with a 6-3, 6-4 in semi final, he had improved his level of performance at Australian Open. Nadal has made his 15th Grand Slam championship final on Thursday night, after beating his old rival World No. 3 Roger Federer in Australian Open semi finals in four sets with a 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-4.

The 25-year-old Nadal has thrashed World No. 7 Tomas Berdych in quarter finals in four sets with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 6-3, while overwhelmed his Davis Cup teammate Feliciano Lopez in straight sets with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Spaniard said he is very happy to be in Australian Open championship, where it’s great to begin the 2012 season and gives a lot of confidence for remaining season. He added he had to play well to win the titles and to win points to holds the top position in the ATP Rankings.

Nadal said he had played well in the second half of the 2011 season, but it’s unfortunate to lose some championship finals against best players. Nadal had played outstanding tennis against Roger Federer in the Australian Open semi final, where he had taken 3 hours and 42 minutes to clinch victory. Spaniard won 77 percent points on his first serve and smashed 36 winners and converted 6 out of 16 break-points, while Federer made 71 percent points in his first serve and convert 3 out of 10 break-points with four aces and 15 giant winners. Swiss Maestro has won 39 points in total as compared to Nadal’s 35 points in the first set.

The 2009 Australian Open champion Nadal will take on either World No. 1 Novak Djokovic or Britain top seed Andy Murray in the Australian Open final on Sunday at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Murray is better than Djokovic to play in the Australian Open final, where he had already lost six finals to Serbian in 2011 season says Nadal. Novak Djokovic is having the little edge to beat Andy Murray in the semi final on Friday at Rod Laver Arena, schedule to kick off at 08:45 GMT.

Tags: Australian Open 2012, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer