MELBOURNE: The “Rafa Slam” is still alive after Rafael Nadal beat Marin Cilic 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 at the Australian Open on Monday to maintain his chance of owning all four Grand Slam trophies at once.
That’s a feat which hasn’t been achieved since Rod Laver won four majors in 1969.
Playing on Melbourne Park’s center court that is named after the Australian legend, Nadal advanced to a quarterfinal against Spain’s David Ferrer as he attempts to add to the Grand Slam titles he won last year at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open.
Nadal hasn’t dropped a set through four rounds at Melbourne Park, despite carrying the effects of a virus he picked up two weeks ago in Qatar.
“Before the match I was a little bit nervous,” Nadal said. “I know aggressive he can play. I think I’ve played my best match at the Australian Open.”
A capacity crowd of 15,000 that included American country music star Kenny Rogers – sitting next to seven-time Grand Slam singles winner Evonne Goolagong Cawley of Australia – saw Nadal struggle at times on his serve.
The fourth game went to deuce four times, but Nadal finally prevailed on his service with a forehand smash at the net, followed shortly by his patented “Vamos” as he walked to the back of the court.
In the next game, he set up one of four break points with an amazing get of a Cilic drop shot at the net, sending it across the court to the side line for a winner. He converted for 4-1 and, after serving a double fault on his first set point, Nadal took the opening set when Cilic netted a backhand.
Nadal went ahead 4-3 on a service break in the second set, then clinched it when Cilic, who beat American John Isner in five tough sets on Saturday, hit a forehand long. He advanced when Cilic double-faulted on match point.
Earlier, fifth-seeded Andy Murray also advanced to the quarterfinals, setting up a possible semifinal with Nadal.
“I don’t want to get carried away,” Murray said after his 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 win over Jurgen Melzer of Austria. “I’ve never won one of these things before.”
The win put Murray closer to a second straight appearance in the final at Melbourne Park, where he lost to Roger Federer last year after beating Nadal in the quarterfinals.
