Nitto ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal outlasts the defending champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas to book a place in the semifinals

Nitto ATP Finals: Rafael Nadal outlasts the defending champion, Stefanos Tsitsipas to book a place in the semifinals
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Rafael Nadal defeated Tsitsipas to book a place in the semifinals

Rafael Nadal booked a place in the last 4 of the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time after 2015, defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in a 3 set encounter. The Spaniard defeated the Greek 6-4,4-6,6-2 in a must win encounter at the O2 Arena. Nadal served brilliantly during the game, registering 8 aces to his name and having an impressive 81% points won on his 1st serve. He also managed to break the Greek’s serve on 4 occasions in the match.

Rafael Nadal is on course to claiming his first ATP Finals title, as he finished 2nd in the Group London 2020, which seals him a place in the semifinals at the O2 Arena. Next up in the semifinals for the Spaniard is Daniil Medvedev, who will finish on top of Group Tokyo 1970, irrespective of his result against Diego Schwartzman.

Rafael Nadal gets off to a strong start, winning the 1st set

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Rafael Nadal won the first set 6-4

Rafael Nadal got to a strong start, after he won the first set 6-4. However, the set was a closely contested affair, and was tied at 4-4, until the Spaniard earned a vital break in the 9th game to lead 5-4. Nadal closed the first set, after a good service game, and was up 1 set to love. The Spaniard had the measure of the Greek in the opening set, as he won most of their rallies, forcing the defending champion into unforced errors.

Stefanos Tsitsipas bounces back, taking the 2nd set

The defending champion, refused to go down without a fight, after he won the 2nd set, by a scoreline of 6-4. The 2nd set, played out similarly like the 1st set and was a tightly contested affair like the former. Both the players were holding their serves up until the 10th game when, Stefanos Tsitsipas broke the Spaniard to clinch the 2nd set. The Greek was leading 5-4 at that time, and Nadal had to hold serve to extend the 2nd set. However, Nadal registered his first and only double fault of the match, when he was defending a set point, which eventually handed Tsitsipas a lifeline.

Rafael Nadal outplays the Greek in the final set

Rafael Nadal got off to a spectacular start in the 3rd set, breaking the Greek in the very first game of the decider. However, Tsitsipas broke him back in the next game to level the score at 1-1. Both players were serving quite poorly until this point. The Spaniard broke the Greek again in the 3rd game of the set, to lead 2-1, and this time held his serve to inch closer to the finish line. Leading 4-2, the Spaniard broke Tsitsipas for a 3rd time in the set which ensured him a victory in this match. Nadal served for the set, which booked him a place in the semifinals.

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