Rafael Nadal storms back from poor opening set to edge Andy Murray and reach Rome semifinals
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Rafael Nadal stormed back from a surprisingly poor opening set to edge Andy Murray 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 Thursday and secure a spot in the Italian Open semifinals.
Murray jumped out to a 5-0 lead and won the first set in just 37 minutes with a dominant display, as the Wimbledon champion unleashed a series of winners from just about everywhere on the court.
But Nadal broke early in the second set and took control with a late break in the third to stay on course for his eighth title in Rome.
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Still, it was the third consecutive match in which Nadal was pushed to three sets, leaving his clay-court form in question entering Roland Garros, which starts in nine days.
Nadal's semifinal opponent will be Grigor Dimitrov.