The defending champion Rafael Nadal arrived at Caja Magica in 2011 as one of the favorites alongside Roger Federer and an in-form Novak Djokovic. The Spaniard beat Marcos Baghdatis in the second round and skipped the third-round clash against Juan Martin del Potro when the Argentine withdrew.
Rafa faced Michael Llodra in the quarters and ousted the Frenchman 6-2, 6-2 in 75 minutes to sail into the semis and set another clash against Roger Federer, their third in a row at Caja Magica! It was the only match on the ATP Tour between Rafa and Michael, and Nadal had the upper hand from start to finish in front of his partisan crowd.
He served at 73% and dropped eight points behind the initial shot to keep the pressure on the other side. Llodra was miles from those numbers, struggling on the second serve and giving away half of the points in his games to experience two breaks in each set.
Rushing forward all the time behind the serve, Llodra suffered a break in the first game after netting an easy volley.
Rafael Nadal needed 75 minutes to beat Michael Llodra in Madrid 2011.
Nadal confirmed the advantage with a hold at love in game two thanks to a backhand winner at the net and extended the lead to 3-0 when Michael sprayed another volley mistake.
The Spaniard forced the opponent’s error for another hold at love in game four. Llodra saved a break chance at 0-4 to avoid a bagel and brought the game home with a crafty volley to get his name on the scoreboard. Rafa closed the sixth game with a smash winner before Michael held at 30 with a service winner to extend the set.
Serving for the opener at 5-2, Nadal closed it with an unreturned serve after 34 minutes, hoping for more in set number two. The Spaniard clinched the second set’s second game with a service winner and wasted a break opportunity in the next one that could have sent him in front.
Creating four break chances at 2-2, Rafa seized the last with a forehand winner to move in front and gain momentum. The crowd’s favorite fired the 25th winner since the start of the match to cement the lead and grabbed another break in the next game when Llodra’s volley landed long. Serving for the win, Rafa landed three winners in game eight to seal the deal in style and sail into the semis.
