Rafael Nadal enacts revenge over Alex De Minaur to progress at Madrid Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas crashes out
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Updated 27/04/2024 at 22:19 GMT
Rafael Nadal rolled back the years in an outstanding performance to seal a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory over Alex De Minaur. Nadal was on top form to dispatch the world No. 11 and erase the memories of his second-round defeat to the Australian at the Barcelona Open 10 days previously. The 37-year-old edged out a keenly-contested opening set after a tie-break, before comfortably seeing out the second.
Highlights: Nadal overcomes De Minaur to advance at Madrid Open
Rafael Nadal gained revenge over Alex De Minaur and booked his place in the Madrid Open third round with a 7-6(6) 6-3 victory.
Ten days on from his defeat to the same opponent in a Barcelona Open second-round clash, Nadal's masterful display here proves there are still some miles left in his tank.
Nadal started in ideal fashion after breaking De Minaur in the Australian's first service game to move 2-0 in front, before the world No. 11 hit back immediately to halve the deficit.
After a further break of serve each for both players in a pulsating opener, the first set went to a tie-break that proved to be just as enthralling.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion delighted the Spanish crowd by moving 6-2 in front to get four set points in the bank, but they all came and went.
However, set point number five came after a stunning two-handed backhand, and Nadal drew first blood as De Minaur hit a long forehand return after an hour and 16 minutes of play.
Nadal took an early break at the start of the second set and moved 3-1 ahead with an emphatic hold to love.
The Spaniard was showing his class and moved daylight between himself at De Minaur at 4-2 with a wonderful backhand.
It was looking much more straightforward for Nadal, with De Minaur having few answers to a devastating array of shots from the former world No. 1.
It was that stunning backhand which came to the fore once again which set up two match points on De Minaur's serve at 5-3, and the first came and went as a De Minaur double fault sealed the deal.
The 37-year-old can now look forward to a match against Pedro Cachin, after the Argentine overcame Frances Tiafoe earlier on Saturday.
Speaking after the match, Nadal said: "I'm super happy to be competitive against a great player like Alex, playing two hours means a lot to me.
“The atmosphere here is a joke, so I can't thank everybody enough.
“If I am able to play tennis for a few weeks in a row, then I will see how far I can go. It's just a case of going step by step and seeing how things go.”
Tsitsipas stunned by Monteiro
Meanwhile, Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned with a second-round defeat to Thiago Monteiro.
The Brazilian claimed a 6-4 6-4 win and faces Jiri Lehecka in round three.
Monteiro took an early break to move 2-1 up in the first set and drew first blood on his second set point after 39 minutes of play.
He moved a set and a break ahead at the start of the second, before Tsitsipas fought back and swatted away two match points to take a crucial hold at 5-4.
However, it only prolonged the inevitable, as the world No.118 progressed after a fourth match point to dump out the world No. 7.
Speaking after the match he said: "For sure it's one of the biggest wins of my career. I knew it would be a tough match. I tried to just believe in myself all the time.
"I was feeling really good on the court and I’ve been playing for three matches already. I had a bit of rhythm and confidence. I just fought until the end and believed."
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