MADRID – After spending more than three hours on the court and achieving a difficult victory, Rafael Nadal felt optimistic again.
Nadal’s body withstood its toughest test yet at the Madrid Open, when he needed three sets to overcome 91st-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.
Nadal showed no signs of physical limitations as he won 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 and reached the round of 16 of the clay-court tournament, where he is a record five-times champion. .
“It’s positive, now I don’t feel like anything has gone wrong in my body, but I need to wait until tomorrow, being 100% honest,” he said. “I’m trying my best to keep dreaming. Tomorrow is another day to keep dreaming. To continue playing in front of this incredible crowd, and for me, that means everything.”
Nadal will next face Jiri Lehecka, ranked 31st. He said he needs to “find a way to be able to play days in a row and still be competitive.”
“I don’t know if I’m still in that moment,” said the 22-time Grand Slam champion. “Let’s see what can happen tomorrow. But I will try. I’m going to do things the right way to try and be ready for tomorrow.”
Nadal, 37, is trying to get in shape for next month’s French Open. Since his last injury layoff, he has played two matches for Barcelona and was pessimistic about his fitness after arriving in Madrid. But he won three more times in the capital.
Nadal again looked comfortable early against Cachin. The Argentine fought back in the second set, but was broken twice during the set’s serve. Cachin ended up winning in a tiebreaker.
Nadal didn’t look as loose in the final set, but he looked tired. He wasn’t as consistent with his shots, but managed three chances to seal the victory, much to the delight of the home crowd at Caja Magica.
“I took more risks in the third set, but it’s difficult after so many months without competing,” said Nadal. “It’s been a long time since I played a game like this. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m going to wake up. But I’m already happy to have won three matches in a row.”
Cachin asked for Nadal’s shirt after congratulating him online and received the gift moments later.
Top seed Jannik Sinner wasn’t at his best but had enough to defeat Pavel Kotov 6-2, 7-5. Sinner, who is dealing with a hip problem, will face 16th-ranked Karen Khachanov.
“I’ve been struggling a little bit with my right hip,” Sinner said. “We’re trying to find a solution and I don’t think it’s anything serious. Sometimes it feels more like today and some days are a little better.”
Daniil Medvedev came from behind to defeat Sebastian Korda 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-3. The third-placed Russian was two points away from defeat.
Casper Ruud, seeded fifth, beat Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-4.
GAUFF DOWN KEYS
Madison Keys bounced back after trailing in the first and second sets to defeat Coco Gauff 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-4 in an all-American fourth-round encounter.
It will be the 20th placed team’s first appearance in the quarterfinals in Madrid. She had lost in the first round in seven of her previous nine trips to the Spanish capital.
Third-placed Gauff hurt herself with 38 unforced errors, including 13 double faults.
Keys will face eighth-seeded Ons Jabeur, who overcame Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-4.
SWIATEK ADVANCEMENTS
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek stayed on course for her first Real Madrid title by defeating Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1, 6-0.
Swiatek dropped just five points in the second set en route to the quarterfinals of the only major European clay tournament the Pole has yet to win.
Sorribes Tormo, 27th placed, was the last Spanish team in the draw.
Swiatek, who lost last year’s Madrid final to Aryna Sabalenka, will next face 11th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated fifth seed Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-4.
Mirra Andreeva celebrated her 17th birthday with a 7-6 (2) 6-4 victory over 12th-ranked Jasmine Paolini. The teenage sensation from Russia came from 5-2 down in the first set to reach the quarter-finals, a round further than she achieved in Madrid a year ago.
Fourth-seeded Elena Rybakina defeated teenage qualifier Sara Bejlek 6-1, 6-3.
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AP Tennis:
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