Nadal struggles to Dubai victory over Kohlschreiber

By Barry Wood

DUBAI (Reuters) - Rafael Nadal was stretched to the limit by Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Dubai Championships on Tuesday, taking two hours 22 minutes to earn a 3-6 6-1 6-4 victory.

At one stage it appeared as if the second seeded Spaniard was in danger of following top seed and defending champion Roger Federer out of the tournament. Federer was beaten in three sets by Britain's Andy Murray on Monday.

Although Nadal broke in the opening game and led 2-0, he then dropped five consecutive games, salvaging just four of 20 points.

That was enough to give Kohlschreiber the first set, and he also held break points in Nadal's first service game of the second set. However, Nadal repulsed that challenge, broke for 2-0 after his opponent held a game point, and fought off another break point.

Although the games remained closely contested and Kohlschreiber often tested Nadal by pulling him wide, Nadal maintained his advantage and broke again at 4-1 before serving out the set to love.

Nadal kept the upper hand at the beginning of the deciding set, holding two break points in Kohlschreiber's first two service games before breaking for 3-2.

Kohlschreiber then leveled at 3-3 before Nadal broke again to love and went on to claim the match.

"It was a tough match," Nadal told reporters. "I didn't play my best, that's true, but it's not easy playing here. Every player is a big player, one of the toughest draws on the tour for sure.