Another hard-fought match for Rafa who wins 6-1 6-7 6-3 and advances to the round of 16
Rafa survives, but suffers like hell to beat in three sets and over three hours of play the willing but very limited Pedro Cachin, number 92 in the world who had arrived in Madrid with a frightening 0-15 in the previous matches. The Argentine loves high ground and had overcome Ofner and Tiafoe, and today he fought with his limited means to take the scalp of a Nadal who was clearly in physical reserve but capable of prevailing 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6 -3 in 3 hours and 4 minutes of play. With Blanch the Spaniard was on the pitch for 64 minutes, with De Minaur 122, today 183. In all of 2023 Rafa played 3 games, in January, here in Madrid he played 3 games in 6 days. And tomorrow here is the fourth, the round of 16 match with the Czech Jiri Lehecka, number 31 in the ranking who overtook the Brazilian Monteiro, who quickly deflated after his feat of eliminating Tsitsipas. Much ado about nothing. So let’s see how the tortured body of the almost 38-year-old Majorcan will react to the ninth match of this 2024 of punishment and resurrection.
no king
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At the Manolo Santana the roof was first closed and then opened due to weather freaks and a large crowd despite the weekday. No king, Felipe VI resolved the government crisis early in the morning by meeting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and then had other military commitments, no Madrid players, traveling to Bavaria for the Champions League semi-final. And the scenography prepared for Madrid’s farewell to Rafa remains folded at least until tomorrow. Cachin won the first two points, then an eloquent 8-2 quickly brought Rafa to the break and 2-0. The second break came in the fifth game, thanks to two forehand winners that the crowd greeted with enthusiasm. The third brought the first set to Rafa: 6-1 in 46 minutes also thanks to a short break to help a fan with physical problems, fortunately overcome. The Argentine calmed down, practically eliminated the gratuitous errors and immediately broke Nadal’s serve, doubling the games obtained in the first half and taking the lead to 2-0 and then to 3-1 with the relative saving of a break point on a Long answer from Rafa. Another break for the 4-1 with two backhand winners and a challenge from Nadal on a clearly out ball to underline the Spaniard’s moment of confusion and difficulty. There, however, Rafa woke up: break with two backhands at the net that brought the crowd out of their seats and a service turn easily managed to get closer to 4-3. Two very open games brought Cachin to serve at 5-4, with the public and Rafa united in sighing worried about a possible third set.
amazing games
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Apnea that lasted for the 14 interminable points of the tenth game, with two break points and two set points, until Cachin’s second double fault of the game who pulled the inexhaustible Nadal up from the well to hoist it to 5-5. But this Rafa is vulnerable, and gives the 6-5 without practically playing to the tough Pedro, who takes the gift and goes to serve again for the set, incurring the fury of Nadal: the Spaniard’s game is zero for the tie break. Three missed backhands from Rafa sent him back into the hell of the third set, 0-3, then 1-4. Again Rafa took the fire extinguisher and equalized with an explosive smash after a great first. The incendiary Cachin brilliantly won the third set point and with a great return extended the match. Already at two hours and 15 minutes.
final effort
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Third set started with yet another serve left to the opponent, from Cachin in this case. Four consecutive points from Rafa, which with the serve became 8 for a quick 2-0. Cachin broke his shoes, the public passed the time by cheering. But this is a match without a master and with a large dose of schizophrenia on Nadal’s part, who has two balls to make it 3-0, wastes them and quickly finds himself at 2-2. New break for Rafa, who finds the stability necessary to take home a decidedly more complex match than expected. When Cachin sends the forehand over the line for the second break and the final 6-3 Manolo Santana explodes. Rafa returns tomorrow for another dance of his last Madrid dance, then who knows. “I’ve been without playing for a long time, and I struggle to control the matches – says Rafa sincerely -. Tomorrow? Let’s see how I get up, being here playing in front of this magnificent audience is already a gift.”
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