Rafael Nadal has vowed to regain his championship form since dropping out of the top four in the world rankings. He took his first step Wednesday.
The now seventh-ranked player in the world was down 5-4 and a break in the first set of his second-round match against big-serving, 6-foot-11 Ivo Karlovic at the China Open, according to USA Today's For the Win.
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It was the perfect opportunity for Karlovic to close out the set against the confidence-sapped Spaniard.
Except that the Nadal of old suddenly appeared.
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At 15-15, Nadal hit three consecutive return winners -- on Karlovic's first serve -- to pull even at 5-all. He started with a cross-court forehand off a serve up the T and then hit a forehand winner up the line on a serve out wide to go ahead 15-40.
Nadal then hit a backhand winner down the line for the game. He went on to win the first set and held off the Croatian 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) to advance.
"That game was so important," Nadal said, according to ATPWorldTour.com. "Probably one of the best games return in my career. Almost a miracle. Three winners from his first serve. That was really amazing."
A second-round match against the No. 21-ranked and 36-year-old Karlovic normally wouldn't conjure such an important turning point for Nadal, but he said the match was a critical confidence-booster.
"In terms of level of concentration and attitude and control of my emotions, it was a fantastic match," Nadal said. "To win 7-6 in the third is a very important victory for me, especially because I believe in the last tiebreak I did not lose a single point on my serve. That's because I was in control again of my emotions. That's the most important thing for me today."
Up next for Nadal is Milos Raonic, and the next step for the former No. 1 is to show more consistency and confidence during the course of a tournament.
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