Rafa Nadal, in eighth after a strange match with Gasquet

“Yes” he shouted Rafael Nadal seeing how his rival’s ball lingered. A roar of release after tying the pass in the round of 16 US Open 2022. A reaction that seemed like an endless exaggeration just half an hour ago, but now it’s understandable. He finished a strange fight, from two different sides. From devastating, to rolling up the sleeves to stop a bipolar rival from reacting. Delivered first and rebelled later.

Nadal, 36 years old and world number 3, confidently faced the problem caused by his French friend Richard Gaquet.

Victory of 6-0, 6-1 and 7-5 in 2h.16′, meeting on Monday with the American Frances Tiafoewhich eliminated the Argentine Diego Schwartzmann by 7-6 (7), 6-4 and 6-4. This is the third rivalry between the Spaniard and the American, 24 years old and No. 26. He won on the soil of Madrid 2019 and in the difficult match in Australia of the same course.

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Although if there is a scapegoat for Nadal it is Richard Gasquet. His rival from the basic categories, although one and the other grew up differently in the professionals. The Spaniard became a legend and the French had a serious career, which included top-10, Davis Cup, titles.

Once they entered the ATP Tour, Nadal made his matchups with Gasquet difficult. Raised the honor to 18-0, 43-4 in setswhere he won 34 in a row. He hasn’t delivered since 2008.

This trend continued for an hour and a half in this 2022 USA Open. Nadal came back from 0-40 at the start, and definitely took the match by running his opponent from one side to the other. A massive beating.

The public took pity on Gasquet, to whom they gave the loudest applause when the 69 minutes he opened his locker. Until that moment the stands remained cold, as there was no conflict. Only one played.

Nadal, no dressing on the nose after the racket he suffered against Fabio Fognini two days earlier, he looked ready to sentence 2-0. But not. Slightly 0-3 by a Gasquet ready to die for the kill. He began to climb the net, to decide on two or three shots per point. With the support of a fan surrendered to their reaction hoping to see something of a show.

An anomalous situation for Rafa. At 4-5 30-30 he had to hold on tight to avoid going to the fourth round. Skillfully, without distractions, he made it 5-5. Next, a labored ‘break’ was snatched from an animated Gasquet. Nadal’s 3-0 averts greater evils. The panorama is becoming dangerous, better not to mess it up as he continues to not push the serve too hard to keep the rectus abdominis that he ruptured at Wimbledon.

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There will be four Spaniards in the round of 16. This Sunday, turn for Pablo Carreno (with Karen Khachanov) and Alexander Davidovich (Matteo Berrettini). On Monday, Rafa Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, who will face the 2014 champion, the Croatian Marin Cilic. The poker of 2013 is repeated, then there is Balearic accompanied by David Ferrer, Tommy Robredo and Marcel Granollers.