López beats Nadal in Cincinnati to set up Federer clash

The duel between the Spaniards went to three sets and a tie-break in the decider. López's serve was instrumental in victory.

Feliciano López reached the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters after beating compatriot Rafa Nadal in a three-set epic, 5-7, 6-4, 7-6. The two Spaniards played out a lengthy match at just shy of two and half hours in a display that delighted spectators for its tempo and competitiveness.

Nadal took the first set after breaking López towards the end, but the Toledo-born player’s serve made the difference as he took the second on the back of six aces and no double faults.

The game entered a third and decisive set in which the combatants ceded little on their own delivery and defended their own service games with grit and determination. In the tie-break, López achieved a mini-break and earned victory over his David Cup teammate for the fourth time in his career. Nadal had won nine previous meetings between the pair.

López will go on to face Roger Federer, who has won the tournament six times, for a place in the semi-finals. The Swiss thrashed South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-1, 6-1 in 55 minutes to reach the last eight. Federer holds an 11-0 record over López.