Nadal catches Fish to set-up Murray match

Nadal set up a repeat of last year’s last-four clash against Murray with a comfortable four-set victory over American 10th seed Mardy Fish yesterday.

The defending champion produced arguably his best tennis of the tournament to take the first two sets, but had to dig deep after losing the third to seal a 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-4 victory on Court One.

Last summer Nadal crushed home hopes by swatting aside the British No 1 in straight sets before going on to clinch his second title at SW19.

Murray headed into his 2010 Wimbledon campaign on the back of a poor French Open, but the 24-year-old has looked in much better form this year, reaching the last four for the third successive time with a straight sets win over Feliciano Lopez.

Nadal, who counts Murray as a close friend thanks to the time they have spent together on tour, expects the Scot to be a tougher prospect when they meet again tomorrow and insists last year’s match will have no bearing on the outcome.

“Andy has been playing at a very, very high level. His last few months have been very, very good so it will be a big challenge for me,” Nadal said.

“He reached the final in the Australian Open, got to the semi-finals in Roland Garros and now he has made the semi-finals here again so this year he’s having a very successful season.

“He has a lot of confidence and will go into this match with a bit more experience.

“The previous matches between us won’t affect this match.

“Every year is a different situation. Last year it was a very close match, even if I won in straight sets.”

Nadal feared his tournament was over on Monday evening when he pulled up towards the end of the first set of his victory over Juan Martin Del Potro with a foot injury.

Scans revealed only swelling in a tendon in the Spaniard’s foot, and he looked in no discomfort as he practised on Tuesday in front of the world’s media.

It was the same story last night as he blasted Fish around the court with his usual gusto to take the first two sets in little over an hour.

“My foot is not fine,” the world No 1 said.

“But we are in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. It is an emergency, so I have to play.

“We decided to sleep (numb) the area of the foot a little bit to play the rest of the tournament.”