Career final number 126! 🙌 @RafaelNadal holds off a strong challenge from Ruusuvuori to reach the #MelbourneTennis final 6-4 7-5
Rafael Nadal complicated matters a bit in his semifinal matchup with Ruusuvuori but the Spaniard was able to win 6-4 7-5 and set up a final against Maxime Cressy.
In the 2nd semifinal of the ATP Melbourne Summer set, Rafael Nadal was able to overcome Finnish talent Emil Ruusuvuori in straight sets and move on to the final. Nadal took almost two hours to defeat the Finnish player but he was able to do it. The start of the match was very interesting as it featured Nadal saving a break point in the first game.
After that, both settled in nicely and neither faced any issues for the better part of the first set. The Finnish player served very well and he possesses a very good serve when it's working properly. Today it gave Nadal quite a bit of issue as the Spaniard saw his first break point in the final game of the set. It was the first break point and set point and Nadal converted it.
Emil was not discouraged and he continued playing solid tennis once again winning his service games with ease. He was the first one to carve out a break point once more but Nadal held on. At 4-3, Nadal finally found a breakthrough and took a 5-3 lead having a chance to close it out on his serve. He failed to do so and Ruusuvuori was able to prolong the match a bit more.
Ultimately Nadal closed it out with 7-5 after converting his first match point in hte match. He will face Maxime Cressy who defeated Grigor Dimitrov earlier in the day.
Career final number 126! 🙌 @RafaelNadal holds off a strong challenge from Ruusuvuori to reach the #MelbourneTennis final 6-4 7-5