Pitted against Stanislas Wawrinka, world number two Rafael Nadal was expected to bulldoze the unheralded Swiss and lift the Mercedes Cup. But in Stuttgart, Wawrinka put up a gutsy show as Nadal huffed and puffed his way to a hard-fought 6-4, 7-5 win in the final.
Wawrinka had scant respect for his opponent’s reputation and was determined to make Nadal sweat in the middle. The Swiss broke Nadal thrice in the course of the match and was in fact leading 5-2 in the second set before Nadal came from behind to tame Wawrinka in straight sets.
Nadal braved a knee injury to fight for about two hours before he could get the better of Wawrinka. This win also meant that the Spaniard has won all but one of his 94 clay court matches since April 2005.
Nadal, playing in his first event after the defeat in the Wimbledon final, said he was happy with his performance, especially because he was playing with an injured knee.
Nadal said
I played a really good tournament and that has given me a lift after losing at Wimbledon.
It (knee injury) was the same problem I had at Wimbledon. But once it was taped up the pain subsided a little and I am very happy I decided to carry on.
Wawrinka too was happy that he did not allow Nadal to make it a lop-sided match.
