‘Unfair?’ Rafael Nadal receives a ‘time violation’ for taking ‘too much’ time at the Madrid Open

‘Unfair?’ Rafael Nadal receives a ‘time violation’ for taking ‘too much’ time at the Madrid Open

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal has returned to action this week at the Madrid Masters after missing out for a month due to a hairline fracture in the ribs. He had a dream start to the season where he won 3 back-to-back titles. He won the Melbourne Summer Set before creating history at the Australian Open where he won his 21st grand slam. He then won the Mexican Open without dropping a set and then made it to the final of the Indian Wells Masters where he lost to Taylor Fritz.

Nadal later revealed that he was playing the final with a hairline fracture because of which he was ruled out for a month and had to miss the initial part of the clay season. This week in Madrid, he defeated in form Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round in straight sets 6-1,7-6(4) which meant that he will face ATP Morocco champion David Goffin in the Round of 16.

Also read: ‘Loss for tennis’ Andy Murray withdraws from the Madrid Open prior to the match against Novak Djokovic

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Rafael Nadal handed a time violation

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal

During his third-round match against Goffin, Nadal was handed a time violation by umpire Richard Haigh in the first set. Nadal was serving at 2-2 in the opening set when the umpire pointed out that he was taking too much time for which he penalized the 21-time major champion.

Nadal was visibly frustrated with the call but didn’t bother to argue much. The Spaniard has time and again received such kind of violations in his career but he has justified it by saying that he sweats a lot and it is not in his control to sweat less. Nadal eventually went on to win the set 6-3 despite being a break down.

Also read: “It’s very difficult to achieve,” Juan Carlos Ferrero drools over the unreal consistency for decades from the ‘Big 3’