Davis Cup quarterfinals: Spain suffers 1-2 loss against Netherlands as Nadal retires
Although Nadal fought hard against the Dutch in the opening set, the 22-time Grand Slam champion was unable to stop the 29-year-old from winning the first set
Ninth seed and 2009 champion Rafael Nadal overcame third seed Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 in their Australian Open quarter-final here on Wednesday.
He will play No.15 seed Grigor Dimitrov, a straight-sets winner over No.11 seed David Goffin, on Friday.
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Nadal targeted Raonic's backhand early on, a tactic from fellow Mallorcan Carlos Moya, a former World No.1 and Raonic's former coach now working with Nadal.
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Raonic saved one break point in the fifth game, but lost his serve by striking an overhead long to gift Nadal a 4-3 lead.
Nadal's 12 winners, nine of 10 net points won, and just two unforced errors highlighted a dominant display in the 43-minute opening set.
Raonic took an off-court medical time-out when he led 3-2 in the second set.
Nadal suddenly lost his confidence from there, and at 4-5 he recovered to save three set points.
Two stunning pieces of anticipation at 3-3 in the second set tie-break helped Raonic open a lead, but more set point chances went begging at 6-4 and 7-6.
Three straight forehand errors by Raonic saw him walk to his chair after a pulsating 81-minute second set, which Nadal eventually claimed.
Raonic recently beat the 14-time Grand Slam champion in the quarter-finals of the recent Brisbane International.
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