Nadal broke Devvarman in the twelfth game of the first set and won it. Well, the Indian Devvarman pushed the World No. 1 to the limits, as Nadal took 1 hour and 8 minutes to win the difficult first set. Nadal fired 18 winners, but also committed 22 uncharacterstic errors, as compared to Devvarman's 16, which delayed the proceedings for him. Nadal won 7 out of 7 net points and converted 2 out of 8 break points.
Devvarman holds on to a tricky service game and extends his lead. The Indian is showing fine temperament here to tackle the might of Nadal. Once again, the World No. 1 makes uncharactestic unforced errors and fails to capitalize on the break point opportunities. Its 2-0, first set.
Nadal gets on board this time. The Spaniard brings in his quick forehand on the forefront to force an error on Devvarman and then executes a fine drop-shot and duly compliments it with a forehand winner. Its 2-1, first. set. Devvarman leads with one break of serve in his hand.
Nadal breaks back! The Spaniard straightway puts pressure on the Indian, but Devvarman manages to save two break points - then commits a terrible double fault to lose the edge to Nadal. Its 2-2, first set. Nadal equalizes the proceedings in the first set.
Nadal holds on to his serve this time and gets a slender lead. Well, the World No. 1 nudges ahead of Devvarman for the first time in the match. Its 3-2, first set.Devvarman is standing up for the challenge.
Devvarman once again shows fine temperament and equalizes the proceedings by holding on to his serve this time. Devvarman commits a double fault, but makes up for this mistake by forcing an error on Nadal. Its 3-3, first set.
Another defiant hold from Devvarman! Tremendous tennis from the Indian there, as he executes a superb volley winnner to outsmart Nadal and then executes another drop shot. Now, Nadal must be feeling a bit of pressure. Its 4 all first set.
Nadal holds on as Devvarman commits two unforced errors. Now, the pressure is back on Indian, as he needs to hold on to his serve now to keep his chances alive in the first set. Its 5-4, first set.
Tremendous hold from Devvarman - amidst circumstances! The Indian keeps coming back to Nadal with his well executed and well timed shots and stays on course. The pressure is back on Nadal. Well, the Indian is having a gala time out there - testing Nadal. Its 5-5, first set.
Nadal holds on to a difficult service game here. Finally, the World No. 1 sails home. Devvarman tests the mighty Nadal to the fullest with his presence of mind and fine range of shots. Tremendous tennis is on. Now, Devvarman will serve to take this intense battle into a tie-break. The Indian is having a time of his life - in the middle.
Excerpts from the first set commentary:
What a start for Devvarman, as Nadal gifts away the break to him. Nadal messes up with a forehand early on and then sends an easy forehand into the net to offer a dream start to the Indian. Its 0-1, first set. Devvarman holds on to a tricky service game and extends his lead. The Indian is showing fine temperament here to tackle the might of Nadal. Once again, the World No. 1 makes uncharactestic unforced errors and fails to capitalize on the break point opportunities. Its 2-0, first set.
Nadal gets on board this time. The Spaniard brings in his quick forehand on the forefront to force an error on Devvarman and then executes a fine drop-shot and duly compliments it with a forehand winner. Its 2-1, first. set. Devvarman leads with one break of serve in his hand.
Nadal breaks back! The Spaniard straightway puts pressure on the Indian, but Devvarman manages to save two break points - then commits a terrible double fault to lose the edge to Nadal. Its 2-2, first set. Nadal equalizes the proceedings in the first set.
Nadal holds on to his serve this time and gets a slender lead. Well, the World No. 1 nudges ahead of Devvarman for the first time in the match. Its 3-2, first set.Devvarman is standing up for the challenge.
Devvarman once again shows fine temperament and equalizes the proceedings by holding on to his serve this time. Devvarman commits a double fault, but makes up for this mistake by forcing an error on Nadal. Its 3-3, first set.
Another defiant hold from Devvarman! Tremendous tennis from the Indian there, as he executes a superb volley winnner to outsmart Nadal and then executes another drop shot. Now, Nadal must be feeling a bit of pressure. Its 4 all first set.
Nadal holds on as Devvarman commits two unforced errors. Now, the pressure is back on Indian, as he needs to hold on to his serve now to keep his chances alive in the first set. Its 5-4, first set.
Tremendous hold from Devvarman - amidst circumstances! The Indian keeps coming back to Nadal with his well executed and well timed shots and stays on course. The pressure is back on Nadal. Well, the Indian is having a gala time out there - testing Nadal. Its 5-5, first set.
Nadal holds on to a difficult service game here. Finally, the World No. 1 sails home. Devvarman tests the mighty Nadal to the fullest with his presence of mind and fine range of shots. Tremendous tennis is on. Now, Devvarman will serve to take this intense battle into a tie-break. The Indian is having a time of his life - in the middle.
Article previews tennis matches involving Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. Roger Federer vs Ryan Harrison. Rafael Nadal vs Somdev Devvarman.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are both on the Order of Play at ATP Indian Wells for Wednesday March 16th and they both play opponents that have a relatively low ranking, at least for a fourth round Masters series match.
Federer will face Ryan Harrison, a player ranked outside of the top 150, while Nadal will face Somdev Devvarman, a player ranked outside of the top 70.
Harrison is a very talented 18 year old American player who has been tipped as the future of American tennis. Based on his current run at ATP Indian Wells, it is not hard to see why many consider him to be a player with a bright future.
Federer and Harrison have never met in a tour match however Harrison has never beaten a player ranked in the top 15, let alone the top 5.
Despite Harrison's improved play, it would be surprising to see him hold his own against Federer in their fourth round match on Wednesday evening.
Rafael Nadal should not face much of a challenge either as he faces India's Somdev Devvarman.
Devvarman is into the fourth round having come through the qualifying draw at the event and having defeated both Marcos Baghdatis and Xavier Malisse in the main draw.
While those are solid victories for Devvarman, Nadal is on exceptional form at Indian Wells as he is into the fourth round having lost just six individual games combined against Rik De Voest and Ryan Sweeting.
Dvvarman's appearance in the fourth round is surprising as it's not what we've come to expect on tour from the former NCAA champion. Despite his improved play the fact remains that Devvarman is very inexperienced for matches of this magnitude and he cannot have much confidence heading into a match against the current world number one.
Harrison and Federer are on the Order of Play for Stadium 1 where they will meet in the final match of the day following the Rafael Nadal vs Somdev Devvarman match. The Nadal match is set to start not before 7pm PT. (CNN) -- World No. 1 Rafael Nadal has continued his impressive run of form at Indian Wells with a straight-sets third-round victory over American qualifier Ryan Sweeting.
The 23-year-old Spaniard has dropped just 11 points on his serve in the tournament so far, and took just 68 minutes to brush aside the world No. 105 6-3 6-1 on Monday.
"I played solid," the two-time winner of the Californian hard-court event, who had a first-round bye, told the official ATP Tour website. "I think today the more positive thing is I finished much better than the beginning of the match. In general I'm happy."
The nine-time grand slam champion will meet world No. 84 Somdev Devvarman in the fourth round, after the Indian qualifier secured just his third win in a Masters event with a 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-5) victory over Belgium's Xavier Malisse.
"I have a lot of respect for Nadal," the 26-year-old said. "He's one of my favorite tennis players, one of my idols, so when I'm out there I'm gonna do everything I can to win the match. I'm gonna compete as hard as I can."
The 23-year-old Spaniard has dropped just 11 points on his serve in the tournament so far, and took just 68 minutes to brush aside the world No. 105 6-3 6-1 on Monday.
"I played solid," the two-time winner of the Californian hard-court event, who had a first-round bye, told the official ATP Tour website. "I think today the more positive thing is I finished much better than the beginning of the match. In general I'm happy."
The nine-time grand slam champion will meet world No. 84 Somdev Devvarman in the fourth round, after the Indian qualifier secured just his third win in a Masters event with a 6-1 3-6 7-6 (7-5) victory over Belgium's Xavier Malisse.
"I have a lot of respect for Nadal," the 26-year-old said. "He's one of my favorite tennis players, one of my idols, so when I'm out there I'm gonna do everything I can to win the match. I'm gonna compete as hard as I can."
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