Tennis
Almagro reaches French QF by beating Tipsarevic
Tennis

Almagro reaches French QF by beating Tipsarevic

Published Jun. 4, 2012 7:59 p.m. ET

Make it 3 for 3 for Nicolas Almagro - as in, three trips to the French Open quarterfinals and three meetings with Rafael Nadal.

The 12th-seeded Spaniard beat eighth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on a wet and windy Monday, then waited to see who his opponent would be.

Answer: Not surprisingly, it was Nadal, who lost only two games in a straight set blowout over Juan Monaco.

Almagro's previous two trips to the round of eight at Roland Garros, in 2008 and 2010, both ended with losses to six-time champion Nadal, part of an 0-7 career mark against his countryman.

ADVERTISEMENT

Asked if he felt Nadal was stronger than two years ago, when they last met in the quarterfinals - a 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3), 6-4 Nadal win - Almagro didn't back down.

''I am stronger, too,'' he said. ''It's different. It's another match, and I'm ready to fight.''

Almagro hasn't lost a set at this year's French Open but neither has Nadal, who has dropped only 19 games over his four matches.

share


Get more from Tennis Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic