Tennis: Nadal makes Queen's semi-final breakthrough

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON, June 13, 2008 (AFP) — French Open champion Rafael Nadal reached the Queen's semi-finals for the first time after out-lasting Ivo Karlovic in a gruelling three-set clash on Friday.

Nadal, the top seed, who had never gone beyond the last eight at Queen's in his two previous visits to the pre-Wimbledon warm-up tournament, now faces reigning champion Andy Roddick for a place in the final.

The Spaniard was pushed all the way by the giant Karlovic before finally winning 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).

Nadal couldn't break the Croat, a Queen's runner-up three years ago, during two hours and twenty minutes of attritional action, but he managed to win a point on his opponent's serve in each of the final two tie-breaks and that was enough to edge through....