Nadal survives Shapovalov scare, saves two match points to enter the quarter-final
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Rafael Nadal
It was a three-set classic at Foro Italico as Rafael Nadal came from a set down to defeat Denis Shapovalov 3-6,6-4,7-6(3) in a match that lasted almost 3 hrs 30 mins. Nadal also saved two match points in the third set en route his victory.
It was all Shapovalov from the word go. He broke Nadal’s serve right up and consolidated the break. The Canadian was firing up winners left, right and center on his forehand side and was getting his first serves right on the money. He broke Nadal again to take a massive 4-0 lead. Although Nadal broke back again but it was Shapovalov who took the first set 6-3.
The resurgence of Rafael Nadal
The initial parts of the second set were no different than the first. The 22-year old Canadian again broke Nadal upfront and stormed to a 3-0 lead. The 20-time grand slam champion was serving very poorly. He landed less than 50% of his first serves in the box and didn’t win much on second serves.
But Nadal, using all his years of experience suddenly found his forehand back and hit passes from deep inside the court for winners. He broke Shapovalov twice consecutively and won 5 games in a row to take a 5-3 lead. He eventually won the set 6-4 to level things up.
Both the players played some high quality tennis in the third set. They were hitting more than 80% first serves in and making a lot less unforced errors. Shapovalov was the first to break but Nadal broke back the very next game to draw level.
They were drawn level at 5-5, and on Shapovalov’s serve, Nadal couldn’t convert 3 break points as his opponent, 13 year old younger to him, held nerve to close out the game. The next game on Nadal’s serve was the replica of the previous one. The game lasted almost 10 mins and Nadal, saving 2 match points took the set to a tie-breaker.
It was all Nadal in the tie-breaker though. He got two mini-breaks upfront to close out 7-3. He moves into his 97th Masters 1000 quarter-final, 16 of which have come in Rome and will play the winner of Kei Nishikori vs Alexander Zverev tomorrow.
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Lakshya Chopra
(2595 Articles Published)