Nadal ruthlessly beats an injury-hit Federer in anti-climatic clash at Indian Wells

So much for this week being some battle of the wounded knee for Rafael Nadal – the ATP Tour’s longtime absentee is in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open after an anticlimactic 6-4 6-2 victory over Roger Federer.
Their 29th career meeting turned out to be memorable only for its role reversal from what had been expected prior to the tournament, with Nadal moving like a gazelle and Federer slightly restricted by the stiffness that has plagued his back in recent days.
A packed 16,000-capacity stadium on a balmy night at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden saw the match start promisingly and then fizzle out somewhat as the 26-year-old nosed ahead and then ruthlessly surpressed his opponent like he had never been away.

Winner: Rafael Nadal celebrates beating Roger Federer in the quarterfinal at Indian Wells

Nadal now plays Tomas Berdych in the semis while Andy Murray will try and join them at that stage when he takes on Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro on Friday.
Reaching the final would now see Murray overtake Federer for the world number two spot, but that will be the least of the Swiss master’s worries as heads into an eight-week break designed to ready him for the arduous phase beginning in May, which takes in the big European clay court events and Wimbledon.
He heads back to Switzerland having lost in two quarter finals and two semi finals this year, not a disaster by any means but not the start to the season he would have anticipated either.

Comfortable: Nadal proved those doubting his knees would be ready for this tournament wrong with a ruthless win over Federer

Back Pain: Federer has been struggling all week with injury

While much of the attention was focussed on the slight awkwardness of his movement that clearly caused him some trouble stretching to his right, it was equally striking just how comfortable Nadal looked at an event some had not expected him to enter, given the damage hard courts have done to his knees.
Federer was not among the doubters: 'He’s not going to come back if he’s not well or half broken,' he said. 'I expected him to tear through those South American clay tournaments (last month). He’s a bit careful at times with his movement, that’s totally normal because he hasn’t played for some time on a hard court. I didn’t understand the talk after those clay tournaments.'

Rivalry: The pair met for the 29th time in their careers and the first time in a year

Into the semi: Nadal will meet Tomas Berdych in the next round

The Wimbledon champion had been struggling slightly against Stan Wawrinka in the previous round, and the stiffness had lingered: 'It was the same as against Stan, I could play and I was happy to be able to compete. It’s a small issue but that doesn’t work against guys like Rafa. The longer the match went on I realised I had to change up my game and he got more comfortable, things became difficult.'
Both players started strongly amid the hugely expectant atmosphere that greeted their first encounter in precisely a year, and the first in nine seasons to take place before the semis. Federer had to save a break point in the sixth game, and then in the eighth two ill-judged forays to the net led to him being passed by a cross court backhand on a third break point.

Lingering: Federer had struggled with pain in the previous round against Stan Wawrinka

Dominated: Nadal went 3-0 up in the second set with the game feeling more like an early round tie

The edge to the match dissipated when he lost the first seven points of the second set and went two breaks down at 0-3. The Swiss then hit out to win the next two games and raise expectations but could make no further headway against Nadal, who was happily scrambling behind the baseline and hitting a rock solid backhand, which has been the case all week.
It was over in 84 minutes, and by the end almost had the feel of a warm-up match for the lower key doubles that followed.
Nadal loves this event and for the eighth straight year is in the last four: 'I played a great first set, the second set was strange, Roger didn’t fight as usual, he had a problem,' said the Spaniard. 'My movement today was better than yesterday and I was very happy to compete so well after a long match (the three setter versus Ernests Gulbis). Four weeks ago I didn’t know I would be here, so I’m very happy. When I was out I missed these kind of matches.'

End of an era? This is the earliest meeting in a tournament between the pair since 2004