Nadal targets improvement despite win
Rafael Nadal has hit the ground running at the Australian Open - winning through to the quarter-finals without dropping a set - yet he accepts an improvement is required over the next week if he is to land his 11th Grand Slam title.
Nadal continued his dominance of Spanish compatriot Feliciano Lopez today, winning 6-4 6-4 6-2 to ease into the last eight in Melbourne.
Despite having not played a warm-up event prior to the season's first Grand Slam, Nadal, not renown as a fast starter at major tournaments, has looked in ominous shape early on.
He said: "I think I started the tournament playing really well this time.
"Sometimes in tournaments I feel that I am improving day by day but this time I felt that I played well on the first day, the second and two days ago.
"And today I played another complete match."
But with Tomas Berdych to come in the last eight and Roger Federer his scheduled opponent in the semi-finals, he knows he must get even better.
"Now I am in the quarter-finals and this is the moment to keep playing well and to try to do a little bit more," he added.
"In general I am doing the right things but, if it's possible, (I need) to try to improve a little bit."
Today was his ninth win in 11 meetings with Lopez whose passive approach played into his opponent's hands.
Possessing a big serve, a good touch at the net and a powerful forehand, Lopez was expected to move forward as often as possible.
But mystifyingly he opted to take on Nadal at his own game, becoming engaged in baseline rallies he was unlikely to win.
And with Nadal's serve, particularly early on, offering nothing, it was always going to be an uphill task for the 30-year-old.
Nadal dropped just four points on serve in the opening set and a solitary break in the third game - secured via a Lopez double-fault - proved decisive.
The second was at least more competitive as Lopez cancelled out an early break to level at 2-2.
And when Nadal threatened again in game five, it seemed as though Lopez realised a more attacking approach was required as he charged the net to avert the danger.
However, he retreated backwards once more and was made to pay as Nadal broke for 4-3, capitalising on a poor Lopez volley.
From two sets down it looked a long way back for Lopez and so it proved as two more breaks settled it.
Berdych advanced courtesy of a stormy 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/3) 7-6 (7/2) win against Nicolas Almagro.
A tight match turned sour at 5-5 in the fourth set with Berdych serving at 0-30.
Having come to the net and played a poor drop shot, leaving the ball in mid-court, Almagro drilled the ball straight at the Czech, hitting him on the upper arm.
Even though it was a legitimate tactic with Almagro also apologising immediately, Berdych was clearly livid at the end, refusing to shake the Spaniard's hand, instead walking straight to the umpire's chair.
And while Almagro was cheered off Hisense Arena, Berdych was booed during his post-match interview.
"When you have a point and somebody wants to hit you straight to your face, I don't see this as a nice moment especially as you have the whole court open," said Berdych.
"But I am happy to go through to my next match."
Eleventh seed Juan Martin Del Potro is also through after a routine 6-4 6-2 6-1 defeat of Philipp Kohlschreiber.
He will meet the winner of the match between Federer and Bernard Tomic in the last eight.
