Starting from the three-set Round of 128 match between Corentin Moutet and Shang Juncheng that had tie-breaks in the first and deciding set, scoring 20 and 22 points respectively in them, and moving to Nadal’s emotional clashes in his return to Madrid against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch and Alex De Minaur, the Madrid Open has been a rollercoaster ride.
Yesterday, 28th of April, Alexander Zverev dominated Denis Shapovalov in two sets, while Argentine Francisco Cerundolo came from a set down to defeat the American Tommy Paul in three sets to book a Round of 16 clash with Alexander Zverev.
Nadal’s Fairytale Madrid Open Run Continues
RAFA SURVIVES 💜@RafaelNadal fights off Cachin in a brutal 3-hour battle to reach the #MMOPEN last 16!! pic.twitter.com/qft9AsqS1E
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 29, 2024
After swatting off Darwin Blanch in two sets, with the 16-year-old barely winning one game in the entire match in their Round of 128 clash of the Madrid Open, Rafael Nadal faced off with Alex De Minaur in a much-anticipated rematch between them since De Minaur defeated Nadal in Barcelona earlier in the month.
After defeating De Minaur in straight sets that lasted over two hours, Nadal booked a Round of 32 clash with Argentine Pedro Cachín. Pedro Cachín came into the match with Nadal off the back of a three-set win against the number 20 seed, Frances Tiafoe.
The Madrid Open clash between Cachín and Nadal lasted three hours and four minutes and lasted three sets where Nadal broke Cachín’s serve in the ninth game of the third set to win the match. This was the first time he had won three straight games since his return from his lengthy injury.
At the net, Pedro Cachín expressed admiration for Nadal, which Nadal acknowledged by later going to his corner to give him his shirt.
“You made my dream come true […] Can I have a shirt or something of yours?”
Rafael Nadal’s next clash would be a Round of 16 match with Jiri Lehecka on the 30th of April, 2024.
Top Seed Avoids Upset, Others Get Easy Wins
The number 3 seed, Daniil Medvedev, took on the number 25 seed, Sebastian Korda. Korda secured a quick break of Medvedev’s serve early in the first set, but Medvedev clawed back in the seventh game to get back on serve. Korda then came out for the 12th game, ferociously attacking till he broke Medvedev’s serve to win the set.
Medvedev clawed back into the match with a tie-break win in the second set and turned up the screws in the third set to win the match in three sets and set up an exciting tie with Alexander Bublik.
In other Madrid Open games, number 1 seed, Jannik Sinner, defeated Pavel Kotov in straight sets to set up an exciting rematch of the Round of 16 tie of the Australian Open with Karen Khachanov. Jannik Sinner had triumphed in that meeting in three sets: 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.
The number 5 seed, Casper Ruud, faced number 29 seed, British number 1, Cameron Norrie. The 2024 Barcelona Open champion, Ruud, outclassed his British opponent all through the match, winning 22 more points, and amassing double the games Norrie won. Cameron Norrie faced a break point 11 times in the match.
Tomorrow, Casper Ruud will face Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Blockbuster Clashes Lined Up For Tuesday
The top 10 seeded players still remaining in the Madrid Open are Jannik Sinner (1), Carlos Alcaraz (2), Daniil Medvedev (3), Alexander Zverev (4), Casper Ruud (5), Andrey Rublev (7), and Hubert Hurkacz (8).
These players will take on Karen Khachanov (16), Jan-Lennard Struff (23), Alexander Bublik (17), Francisco Cerundolo (21), Felix Auger-Aliassime, Tallon Griekspoor (24), and Taylor Fritz (12) respectively.
The remaining fixture will be between Rafael Nadal and Jiri Lehecka (30) and would be one more chance for Madrid fans to watch Nadal compete in the Madrid Open.
Also Read: Rafael Nadal Earns Revenge Over Young Star In Stunning Madrid Win
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Ebenezer has been an avid writer for over a decade and a half. Within that period, he has garnered experience in various fields such as editing, graphics design, transcribing, sales, data analysis, and football management.
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