Nadal’s First Top Twenty Win Since 2022
Spain’s Rafael Nadal dispatched world number eleven Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Madrid Open 7 – 6 (6), 6 – 3 on Saturday, April 27th. This is his first ATP Tour victory versus a top twenty ranked opponent since November 2022.
Showing signs of his winning technique, Nadal, with an enthusiastic crowd pulling for him, won an electrifying, seventy-seven minute first set in a tiebreak. He then smashed de Minaur’s serve to seize a second set lead.
After the match Nadal was informed in an interview that it seemed as if “the old Rafa Nadal was back”. Nadal was quoted as saying, “No, no, no not yet”. He laughed stating, “it needs time, and I think for moments have been good level of tennis. I was able to do positive things but still on and off”.
Ruud’s Thirty Match Wins
Norwegian Casper Ruud is the first tennis player, of either sex, to win thirty matches this year with his win against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6 – 4, 6 – 1.
Ruud has had an amazing last few weeks with his win over number one Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo semifinals. This was his first win over a number one player.
In Barcelona he won the uppermost title of his career, his first title at an ATP 500 event.
Monteiro’s Upset Win Over Tsitsipas
World number 118 Thiago Monteiro defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in an upset win 6 – 4, 6 – 4.
The Brazilian played a daring game to triumph over Tsitsipas for his fourth career Top Ten win.
After the match Tsitsipas was quoted as saying, “I had a very good opponent on the other side of the net. He was coming up with great shots and punishing me every single time I played short. Didn’t manage to get the depth of the court. He was very aggressive, very persistent. His first-serve percentage was pretty high, very good first-serve percentage of about 86% I believe”.
The Greek additionally stated, “I just wish I was able to return the way I did in the last game. I felt out of rhythm the entire match on my returns. I felt very disbalanced and just, like, my body was going all over the place”.
Jannik Sinner’s Milestone
Saturday at the Madrid Open world number two Jannik Sinner is now the top seed player.
He is leading the ATP race. This is the first time in his career where he is leading a Masters 1000 draw.
Sinner challenged his good friend, Italian Lorenzo Sonego, with a triumphal win of 6 – 0, 6 – 3.
Dark Horse Win
Dark horse American challenger Ben Shelton reached the third round of the Madrid Open by defeating Tomas Machac 6 – 0, 6 – 2.
Number fifteen ranked Shelton will play number seventeen ranked Kazakh Bublik next in the tournament.
Alcaraz Advances To Fourth Round
Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz sails into the Madrid Open fourth round with a win over Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 6 – 3, 6 – 3.
The second-seeded player dominated the H2H match and is seeking to become the first player in history to win three straight titles in the Spanish capital.
Alcaraz stated, “I think I played at a really good level. Coming into this match I was nervous a little bit because I didn’t know how my forearm was going to be. Thiago has big shots. He is really strong. I am really happy with the performance. It was difficult a little bit at the end, at 5 – 0 and then werving at 5 – 3. I am really happy to get it at the end”.
Zverev Defeats Shapovalov
Fourth-seeded German Alexander Zverev defeated Ontario native Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the Madrid Open 6 – 4, 7 – 5.
Zverev will next face number twenty-one seed Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round of the tournament.
