Rafael Nadal could be called the “Comeback King”…
The 27-year-old Spanish tennis star reached the final of the Qatar Open on Friday after storming back from one set down to beat German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
“I’m in the final,” Nadal said. “That (will) probably give me a little bit more confidence, a little bit more rhythm.”
Nadal lost the first three games against the 162nd-ranked Gojowczyk but came back to level the first set before losing serve again in the 10th game.
The top-ranked Spaniard then raced to a 4-1 lead in the second and broke Gojowczyk’s in the third game of the decider after two forehand errors by the German.
“We’ll see if I am able to make (changes) tomorrow to play a little bit better,” Nadal said.
Nadal, who is trying to earn first title in Doha, will now face Gael Monfils of France, who beat Florian Mayer of Germany 6-3, 6-2 in the other semifinal.
The 31st-ranked Monfils hasn’t dropped a set all week but has only beat Nadal twice in 10 previous meetings. However, both those victories came here in Doha — in the 2009 quarterfinals and the 2012 semifinals.
This will be Monfils’ third appearance in the Doha final — he lost to Roger Federer in 2006 and to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2012.
“It means a lot to be in the final again,” Monfils said. “I have one match to go. I’ll be ready for it.”
