Valencia Website
April 8, 2024
No. 7 seed Igor Andreev from Russia upset No. 3 seed Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-2. The Russian was flawless with his return breaking Nadal's serve a total of six times en route to his victory.
There were plenty of service breaks in the first set (5 total) with Andreev taking the final one at 6-5 after three deuces.
In the second set Andreev broke at 2-1 and 4-1 but Nadal broke right back to serve at 2-5 and attempt a comeback, but Andreev broke for the sixth time to close out the victory.
With the win, Andreev reaches his first ATP semifinal of the year and will now play surprise semifinalist Ivan Navarro for a spot in Sunday's final.
In the first match of the day, qualifier Navarro came back from a set down to upset No. 2 seed Fernando Gonzalez in a 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 thriller.
After both players held serve throughout the first set until a close tie-break won by Gonzalez, the Alicante-native broke once in the second and third set to register the win.
This is Navarro's career first ATP semifinal.
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