The third-seeded Nadal could now face Roger Federer in a final for the first time since May 2013.
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Switzerland’s Roger Federer, left, and Spain’s Rafael Nadal, right, share a word before their final match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, Sunday, November 1, 2015.
Nadal overcame dropping his serve in the opening game of each set and saved two set points for the fifth-seeded Gesquet in the tiebreaker. Federer had a smoother path, and Sock did well to stretch the match beyond one hour when Federer was two points from victory serving with a 5-2 lead.
Nadal, meanwhile, was unable to serve up an ace and only managed to break his opponent once, in the second set.
Playing at the tournament where he was a ball boy 20 years ago, Federer breezed through the first set by breaking Nadal twice. Federer even told Nadal that just by making it this far in Basel for the fist time, “it’s like you won the final”.
Federer, who last faced off against Nadal at the 2014 Australian Open, hit 12 aces – with none by Nadal in the course of the match.
The third set was on serve untl Federer broke to take a 5-3 lead.
Thanking them for the encouragement during the week, he added: “Every time I’ve played I’ve had lots of support”. Blunt about his struggles with nerves throughout this season, the Spaniard has demonstrated that his formidable mental strength is returning this week.
It marked the third consecutive three-setter for Nadal, who had previously gone the distance against Lukas Rosol (1-6, 7-5, 7-6(4)) and Grigor Dimitrov (6-4, 4-6, 6-3).
Each man held serve throughout the first 10 games of the set.
Nadal was happy with his week after beating Grigor Dimitrov, Marin Cilic and Gasquet to get to Federer.
Meanwhile, Sock defeated his compatriot Donald Young in the last eight of the Swiss Indoors.
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“Clearly was a big match, big occasion, probably more for me than for him. To come through and win was very special… a very special day”. If at all, that epic 2008 Wimbledon final was to stand the test of time as the greatest tennis match ever, then, the duo are ever more eager to play many more thrilling clashes.
