“Things are not perfect, I need to improve” Rafael Nadal passes a tricky test of Ricardas Berankis to advance into the third round at Wimbledon
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Rafael Nadal
World No. 4 and the 2nd seed of the ongoing 2022 Wimbledon Championships, Rafael Nadal has made his way into the third round after his 4-set win over Ricardas Berankis in the second round. It was Nadal’s second consecutive 4-set win at the Championships as the Spaniard returns to the All-England Club for the first time since 2019. Rafa won the match 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 after a delayed conclusion to the match as the roof was not closed on Center Court during the 4th set leading to an hour-long delay for the final few games in set 4.
Rafa looked comfortable in the first two sets and was on the verge of closing the match in straight-sets but Ricardas fought valiantly to cause problems for the Spaniard and force a fourth set in a massive momentum shift. Nadal then quickly took a 3-0 lead in the fourth set before the rain interruptions. Despite a long delay for the start, Nadal wrapped up the proceedings to advance ahead going 16-0 in Grand Slams this year.
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“Every day is an opportunity to improve”: Rafael Nadal looking at positives
Despite not being able to break Berankis after play resumed, it was enough for Nadal to hold his serve as he had a good lead of 3 games that saw him wrap up the proceedings after 3 hour and 5 minute battle on court and an additional hour of waiting due to rains.
“Well, every day is a challenge, that’s the truth. All the opponents are difficult, we are playing against the best players in the world, and especially in these conditions, a little bit more. I didn’t play much on the grass in the last three years, so every day is an opportunity to improve and today I am through, so that has given me the chance to keep going, so I’m happy for that. I need to improve, but I think that the fourth set was much better, I think there was a good level of tennis in that fourth set.
“I served much better at the end of the match and I was able to play a little bit more aggressively with the forehand. At the beginning, there were too many mistakes. But, as a process, it’s important for me to accept that things are not perfect and keep working, being humble and accept the challenge and just think positive things all the time, even when things are not going the best way possible,” said Nadal in his post-match press conference as he now prepares to take on Lorenzo Sonego in the third round.
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Sarthak Shitole
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