Nadal has two sacrifices to make back to back now.

Both are coming off the same altar called the five-set stone.

Verdasco played a five setter against Ferrer and Youzhny has just completed his version of it against Wawrinka to make Nadal’s road to the finals strewn with rose petals. It that good or bad?

Bad because facing a red-hot Federer in the finals may be too much of a bump for Nadal after these easy pickings. Good because it will protect the most defining factor in determining whether Nadal wins or loses – on ANY surface: Fuel.

Besides, past history between the two points to total and complete irrelevance to what trail they leave before meeting each other. Both have produced questionable performances in the previous rounds at almost every tournament they have faced each other at – so many freaking times – that their unique match up idiosyncracies dictate everything moving forward.

But just as Federer finds himself in a must-win situation after this Soderling thrashing, Nadal is not too far from it, if not with an even acute case of affliction, emanating from the draw that appears to be getting better with every round. If this keeps up a walkover or a retirement in the finals shouldn’t shock anyone.