World number two Rafael Nadal did a great favor to debutant
American James Blake by beating Tommy Robredo in an all-Spanish
round robin match on Wednesday at the elite year-end Masters Cup in
Shanghai.
The 20-year-old Spanish sensation, who lost to Blake 6-4, 7-6
(7-0) in the opening round robin match on Monday, beat Robredo
7-6(2), 6-2 in one hour and 41 minutes.
While in an early Red Group match against Russian Nikolay
Davydenko, the 27-year-old Blake, who made his first appearance at
the Masters Cup, claimed victory 2-6, 6-4 and 7-5 to collect his
second consecutive win.
Ranked eighth on the ATP rankings, the American has proven to be
Davydenko’s nemesis, who has lost all five meetings against Blake
including Wednesday's Masters Cup loss.
Blake has also kept a clean sheet against Nadal, winning all
three times after beating the Spanish sensation two days ago.
He further holds a 3-1 win-loss record against another player in
his group, Tommy Robredo of Spain, sixth ranked in the world.
"It is tough to expect to beat the number two and three players
in the world in consecutive matches," said Blake. "But I realize
the depth of men's tennis, going down to the top eight players,
anyone can beat anyone. We are all human.
"I just try to keep my head focused, keep positive, see what
happens at the end. I kept myself in the match today, hung in when
Nikolay was playing unbelievable tennis. Then he maybe faltered
just a little bit, thanks to me playing a lot better. And then I
just got the momentum going at the end at the right time."
In the Gold Group, Nadal and Davydenko are tied with one win and
one loss while Robredo has already been knocked out on his first
Masters Cup trip.
On Friday, Nadal will face Davydenko and the winner will book
the other berth in Gold Group to make it semifinals.
"Davydenko played very well last week and it will be difficult
but I will try my best to beat Davydenko," said Nadal in broken
English.
This year's Masters Cup began on Sunday with the world's top
eight singles players competing in two groups of four for the
round-robin stage.
Federer is paired with Nalbandian, Ljubicic and Roddick in Red
Group while Nadal, Davydenko, Robredo and Blake pack the Gold
Group. The top two in each group will meet in the semi-finals.
(Xinhua News Agency November 16, 2006)