Rio Open 2014: Rafael Nadal vs Joao Sousa - As it happened

Quarterfinals: Rafael Nadal def. Joao Sousa 6-1 6-0

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Joao Sousa of Portugal during the ATP Rio Open 2014 at Jockey Club Rio de Janeiro on February 21, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

If the previous match was dominance, this was destruction.

Nadal gave Joao Sousa all of one game in the entire match, as he stormed into the Rio semifinals with his best performance in the tournament so far. If Nadal had any problems due to his back strain, he sure didn’t show them as he produced a clay court master class.

Nadal was aggressive again and attacked the net early on. Sousa played aggressively too, but he was facing the ultimate counterpuncher on clay. After early service holds, Nadal played brilliantly on the fourth game. He used his curling top spins to full effect, and passed Sousa twice to take the first break of the match.

It was interesting to see that Nadal was going for aces and trying to finish the points quickly rather than engage in long rallies. Whether this was a new strategy, or a method to put less strain on his back, it sure was working well for him.

Out of nowhere, Sousa had three break points on the very next game, but Nadal saved them all brilliantly. First, he hit a top spinning forehand right on the baseline which Sousa mistakenly left, thinking it was long. Second, he produced a brilliant backhand lob, which Sousa couldn’t reach even after scrambling. He saved the third when Sousa hit his forehand to the net. Nadal got to game point with a sublime drop shot, but couldn’t convert. He finished the game with a forehand smash from the net to take a 4-1 lead.

Sousa tried his best to stay in the match and made Nadal work for every point. But he couldn’t sustain his level, and eventually double faulted to give Nadal break point, which he promptly converted when Sousa fired a forehand long.

Serving for the set, Nadal raced away, and obliterated Sousa’s weak defense, to take the set 6-1.

Sousa had a monumental task in front of him, and any hopes he had of coming back into this match were immediately extinguished in the opening game of the second set. Nadal attacked him relentlessly and combined his aggressive shots with a perfectly executed drop shot to reach break point. Sousa saved it, but his inconsistency in serving cost him. A string of double faults and second serves never let him gain control of the point, Nadal broke him when he gained his third break point.

Nadal held serve to consolidate the break and looked like he could run all day if he wanted to. No matter what Sousa threw at him, it came back with more aggression than sent. He was simply too good, and overwhelmed the Portuguese to break him yet again and lead 3-0.

Just when it looked like Nadal was playing at his highest level, he elevated it even further. He was instinctively hitting forehand passing winners, and it seemed like he had so much time on the ball, compared to his opponent. Simply put, clay court tennis at its finest.

Sousa was looking at the heavens now, hoping his misery would end soon. It was a measure of how badly he was getting beaten that when he stood on game point at 0-4, the crowd cheered for him.

There was no sympathy from Nadal though and the misfortune continued for Sousa. After a couple of more double faults and missed opportunities to close the game, Nadal broke him for one final time when Sousa, in full control of the point, smashed the ball so hard that his racquet slipped and touched the net cord, evoking a smile from Nadal.

Soon, Nadal reached match point and won the set and the match with a superb angled forehand winner to take it 6-1 6-0. He will now face Pablo Andujar in the semifinals.