Wimbledon, Nadal-Van de Zandschulp in the round of 16

It will be the last match scheduled on the Central Field, Monday 4th July, the eighth final which will see the n.2 of the seeded Rafa Nadal and the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp as protagonists. The Spaniard, two times winner of Wimbledon, will challenge for the second time in his career (and this season) the number 25 in the world rankings. Between Nadal, the undisputed favorite of the match according to the bookmakers, and Van de Zandschulp there is only one precedent, dating back to the third round of Roland Garros, where the Majorcan won in the minimum of partials with the score of 6-3 6-2 6-4.

THE YEAR OF RAFA

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The Spaniard is experiencing one of the best years of his career, with an incredible win rate to his name (89%), and four titles won: Melbourne Summer Set, Australian Open, Mexican Open and the French Open. He showed up at Wimbledon without a match on grass due to the usual foot problems, he is in the winning streak from the first round of Roland Garros (9 consecutive wins) and is currently in the running for the Grand Slam. In his path to the Championships he eliminated the Argentine Francisco Cerundolo at his debut (6-4 6-3 3-6 6-4), and then defeated in four sets also the Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (6-4 6-4 4- 6 6-3). In the third round he then liquidated the blue Lorenzo Sonego in the minimum of partials, with a score of 6-1 6-2 6-4.

THE OPPONENT

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He recorded a positive 6-3 record on the grass fields Van de Zandschulp this year, having reached the semi-finals of the ATP 500 at Queen’s, where he only left the scene against the champion Matteo Berrettini. On his way to the round of 16 in Wimbledon, the number 25 in the world imposed himself in sequence on the Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez (6-2 6-3 6-3), the Finnish Emil Ruusuvuori (3-6 6-1 6- 4 6-4) and the French Richard Gasquet (7-5 ​​2-6 7-6 6-1).