After scoring the first set 6-4, Rafael Nadal there was a scare in the first game of the second round of the ATP round of 16 match on clay Bastard (Sweden) against Cameron Norrie.
Running like a man possessed in search of the ball, the Spaniard fell on the court and slightly injured his left knee and elbow. He needed brief medical attention for the bruises he sustained, but that trip didn’t stop him from continuing to perform at an excellent level.
However, the British is a spirited tennis player, he broke the Spaniard’s serve in the fourth game and, after saving a break point in the fifth, went 1-4 up, a good position to try to level the score. and take the match to the third and final set.
None of that happened as a frantic finish from Nadal sent Norrie crashing down center court in Bastad. Rafa gave another of those old-fashioned demonstrations where he can turn very difficult situations in his favor: from falling 1-4 down, he won the second set and the match after stringing together five consecutive games ( three of them.blank) among those who lost only three points from the last 23 played.
“So I said to myself, ‘Okay, it’s 1-4, but it could be 4-1 for me too, so I just need to keep doing the things I’m doing a little more aggressive with my.’ backhand, which I think at the end of the match worked a little better. That makes the difference. I’m also quite happy with the forehand and the serve,” Nadal explained in his press conference.
“I ended up with great feelings,” Rafa admitted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve played on the circuit Roland Garros, and having the opportunity to compete well against a great player like Cameron is a great feeling. In some moments I played good tennis and in others I needed to play a little more aggressively, but that’s part of the process,” the Spaniard added.
“I haven’t been competitive lately, so games and wins like today help. Being in rhythm throughout the match and keeping pressure on the opponent throughout the match is something I need to improve, because I haven’t played enough,” said Nadal, who will face off this Friday (not before 1:00 pm/Movistar+ ) for the first time in Argentina Mariano Navone23 years old and world number 36.
“He is a player who has been playing very well this year and has won a lot of games, especially on clay. This is the quarterfinals of a historic tournament on a circuit like Bastad and you can’t expect an easy opponent. I’m just focused on continuing to improve every hour every day, I know it’s difficult, but I hope to play good tennis and have opportunities,” concluded Rafa.
Source: La Verdad
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