Madrid: Rafael Nadal Saved four match points to beat Belgium David Goffin 6-3 5-7 7-6(9) Go ahead in a thrilling match on Thursday Madrid Open Quarter Finals.
As his beloved Real Madrid came back from the brink of reaching the Champions League final on Wednesday, 35-year-old Nadal found the extra energy to win a long tiebreak and secure his 1,050th career win.
Unusual errors and double faults from third seed Nadal allowed Goffin to go 3-2 in the first set, but the Spaniard broke twice quickly to finish the set, sealing it with a toxic crosscourt forehand winner. done.
Nadal’s stroke-making became more convincing in the second set as he used every corner of the court to score winners past Goffin, who had no answers and looked to heaven in constant despair.
But the veteran Belgian eventually found his limit and played with more authority as he rallied down 3-5, breaking twice to force the third set.
Playing only his second match after returning from a rib injury, Nadal looked rusty as he let his advantage slip away when Goffin saved two match points in the second set, leaving home fans at Manolo Santana Stadium to a great extent.
There was nothing to separate the two in the third set, which led to an absorbing tiebreak, where Goffin almost won 4-1 at the start, before Nadal won in just three hours.
In the next round, Nadal will face either his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz or Britain’s Cameron Norie.
Earlier, defending champion Alexander Zverev had gone into the quarter-finals when Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire after losing 6-3 1-0 to a thigh injury. The Italian called the trainer in the middle of the set, but could not continue.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev recovered from a slow start to give Dan Evans a 7-6 (7) 7-5 win and Russia will face fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost. Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-4.
Top seed Novak Djokovic earned a day’s rest after his last-16 rival Andy Murray withdrew due to illness.
The Serb will next face Hubert Harkaz who defeated Dusan Lajovic 7-5 6-3.
As his beloved Real Madrid came back from the brink of reaching the Champions League final on Wednesday, 35-year-old Nadal found the extra energy to win a long tiebreak and secure his 1,050th career win.
Unusual errors and double faults from third seed Nadal allowed Goffin to go 3-2 in the first set, but the Spaniard broke twice quickly to finish the set, sealing it with a toxic crosscourt forehand winner. done.
Nadal’s stroke-making became more convincing in the second set as he used every corner of the court to score winners past Goffin, who had no answers and looked to heaven in constant despair.
But the veteran Belgian eventually found his limit and played with more authority as he rallied down 3-5, breaking twice to force the third set.
Playing only his second match after returning from a rib injury, Nadal looked rusty as he let his advantage slip away when Goffin saved two match points in the second set, leaving home fans at Manolo Santana Stadium to a great extent.
There was nothing to separate the two in the third set, which led to an absorbing tiebreak, where Goffin almost won 4-1 at the start, before Nadal won in just three hours.
In the next round, Nadal will face either his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz or Britain’s Cameron Norie.
Earlier, defending champion Alexander Zverev had gone into the quarter-finals when Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire after losing 6-3 1-0 to a thigh injury. The Italian called the trainer in the middle of the set, but could not continue.
Sixth seed Andrey Rublev recovered from a slow start to give Dan Evans a 7-6 (7) 7-5 win and Russia will face fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who lost. Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-4.
Top seed Novak Djokovic earned a day’s rest after his last-16 rival Andy Murray withdrew due to illness.
The Serb will next face Hubert Harkaz who defeated Dusan Lajovic 7-5 6-3.