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INDIAN WELLS, California: Spanish Rafael Nadal put on
an impressive display of serving and shot making to overpower
Frenchman Arnaud Clement, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), and reach the third round
of the $5.3-million ATP/WTA Pacific Life Open.
Two-time French Open champion
Nadal snuffed Clement’s attack with a precision forehand and
steady serve which earned him 10 aces.
“I served very well in the
first set,” Nadal said. “I had 10 aces, and I don’t do that
every day.”
The left-handed Spaniard improved
to 3-1 lifetime over Clement. His next match will be against
countryman Fernando Verdasco, who defeated Andreas Seppi of Italy,
7-6 (7-5), 6-3.
“The second set I had some
mistakes, three double faults in one game and two in another, but I
am not worried because I have a good feeling with the forehand and
when I am playing well, I feel very well with the forehand.”
The second-seeded Nadal hit 31
winners and served 58 percent in the one hour, 44 minute match on
the main stadium at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Nadal is off to a 10-4 start this
year and is seeking his first tournament win since capturing the
French Open last year.
What is scary about Nadal’s
current form is that Saturday he said he feels he is hitting the
ball better on the forehand than he did in 2005 when he won 11
singles titles.
“Maybe that was one of my best
moments with my forehand,” Nadal said. “I am playing better than
I did in 2005.”
His best result in Indian Wells
is a semifinal berth last year where he lost to eventual runner-up
James Blake.
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