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With eight men in the draw and Wimbledon well into his second week, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement in the air around the All England Club. Tuesday could well be a day off in terms of tournaments, but there is no respite for the remaining competitors. And although Aorangi Park may not be the hive of activity that it was a few days ago, the atmosphere is just as electric in the practice area.
Rafael Nadal, a well-known figure in training courts when he is not competing for Central Court or Court 1, is preparing for his quarterfinal match against American Sam Querrey. Never lightly takes a workout, the world No. 2 is as focused as ever, following the instructions of his team. Once again, it's the Wimbledon champion's double serve that gets the most attention. Although he has not stopped serving since the second leg of the second round, the Spaniard knows that it is essential to keep on serving to continue his march towards a third crown at the Championships.
Coach Francisco Roig will oversee Nadal's training session. On the eve of the match between Nadal and Querrey, Roig discusses with ATPTour.com the major stakes of the competition at this stage of the tournament and describes what Nadal must do to reach the last four at SW19 for the seventh time.
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Four wins and count
Rafa set the bar high, even by his standards, in the first four rounds. It adapts well to the game on grass and works at full speed. Being aggressive, he has provided space for different approaches to each game. I can not criticize any aspect of his game so far. He must be happy after the 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 win (on Joao Sousa in the fourth round).
"I have the impression of taking a step forward each day." – Nadal, following his victory over Sousa
I am happy to hear that. Monday's victory strengthened his confidence. I have already said: the first week of Wimbledon is always complicated. At the end of the first round, circumstances change. Every game is tense, but at this point, Rafa has found his rhythm and because of that, he has fun. He controls the points and dictates things. There are no holes in his game and it's essential to play on a grass field, where you can not hide behind a strength and hope that will take you to the end. Realizing he was getting better every game, he recognized that he had a good position on his state of mind.
Nadal played eight consecutive sets without facing a break
This statistic reveals two things. The first is that his service, the first and second, resists very well. Another is that his concentration is unshakeable. Rafa understands the importance of staying in service and the complexity of things when he drops. Avoiding distractions or concentration failures is the key, even more so on this surface.
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What has changed during the first four rounds?
The state of mind. For some players remained in the draw, it is a new field; they are fighting for their first Grand Slam semifinal. Players like Rafa, Roger and Nole have already come here. It is a familiar territory and they are accustomed to reach this stage of major. As difficult as it is from now on, I am convinced that Rafa can not only maintain the high level of play, but even lift it up. He will have to move up a gear against Querrey and eventually against Roger … There is no room for error. He participates in these matches with a lot of momentum, which is reassuring.
Four quick starts to open matches
Break early, if possible, and often. That goes with his aggressive approach on the ground. Rafa is eager to catch his opponents with their guards, taking them by surprise. When he is more confident, Rafa will go on the offensive from the first point of the match. Each turn will be more difficult than the last but Rafa will not change tactics now; applying pressure right from the start and keeping opponents in the back is the key to success.
What do you expect from Querrey?
We are expecting a very difficult match. Concentration is essential and all opportunities must be exploited. We know Querrey: he is a fantastic server and his forehand is powerful. He is also very mobile for a man of his size. He also has great experience on the grass. Overall, it's going to be a tough match. But I hope that Rafa will be at his best. If he can stay aggressive and impose his game, he will be victorious. He enters this match with a lot of momentum and, more importantly, he has fun. It's a crucial stage of the tournament and Rafa is ready.
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