Rafael Nadal it is not for surprises. If he decided to come to Wimbledon, it was because he felt strong and ready for a new challenge and, at the moment, he is already in the quarterfinals for the eighth time in the tournament. In a week he has already left four rivals on the road, possibly weak and with a lower ranking, but to whom he has not given them opportunities either. The last one was this Monday the Dutch Botic Van de Zandschulp, which he got rid of 6-4, 6-2 and 7-6 (6), in an ending that was more than complicated for him.
“I think I can hurt him on these grass courts. I have more confidence in my shots,” he had said. Van de Zandschup, before entering the central to face the Balearic tennis player. At Roland Garros, on land, Nadal he had eliminated him in the round of 16 (6-3, 6-2, 6-3). This Monday has shown him that it is not a question of the surface of the track. When you learn to ride a bike he doesn’t forget anymore, even though like Nadal he hasn’t played at Wimbledon for three years.
Rafa rolls into the quarter-finals ?
The Spaniard secures a straight sets victory over Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6)#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 | @Rafael Nadal pic.twitter.com/Sq0SovkdoB
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2022
Forceful and determined
Nadal He entered the center in a hurry. Forceful and aggressive. Determined to soon turn the page of eighths. Van de Zanschulp he believed in his options and kept his pulse. He saved a first break in the second game and hung on until Nadal he put a little more pressure on the accelerator and pressured him to take the serve and the set from him.
In the second round Nadal took less time to make the ‘break’ (2-0), after saving a ‘break point’ against in the first game. And again Nadal he would close the set with another break.
The Dutch tennis player was able to achieve his first break at the beginning of the third set (0-1), Nadal he would recover it immediately in the next game (1-1). He would repeat in the sixth (4-2) although at the time of closing it van de Zanschulp, nothing to lose, managed to equalize the score and force a ‘tie break’ in which Nadal suffered until the last point before winning the match, thanks to a smash that the Dutch tennis player sent off the baseline.
Fritz, next rival
Nadal will meet this Wednesday in the quarterfinals Taylor Fritz who got rid, without problems, of the Austrian Jason Kübler (99 world) by 6-3, 6-1 and 6-4. The Balearic tennis player has a pending account with the American after losing the final of Indian Wells, injured in the abdominals, although Fritz He also did not arrive well at the game that he played with his foot anesthetized by a sprained ankle in the semifinals, in which withdrawal was considered.
They had more problems to access the quarterfinals Nick Kyrgios and Christian Garin to get rid of the Australian from the American Brian Nakashima 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 3-6 and 6-2, and the Chilean against the Australian Alex De Minaur by 2-6, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-4 and 7-6 (10-6). Two rivals who could also cross paths in the future Nadalin semifinals.
Kyrgioswho eliminated Nadal in 2014, got back into a fight against him, from which he did not emerge the winner until after 3 hours and 11 minutes, albeit with 35 aces, 78 winners and 78% first serves , as a cover letter.
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Nadal He is three games away from that great goal that would be his third title at Wimbledon, the third consecutive Grand Slam of the season and the 23rd of his career. For that he still has a long way to go and he is the first to know.
Rivals like the Italian have disappeared on his route Matteo Berrettinithe Croatian Marin Cilic -low due to covid- the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime Y Stefanos Tsitsipasbut his sights are set on the top draw of the tournament where a certain Novak Djokovicwho this Tuesday will prove his great moment with the young Italian Jannik Sinner in the game that opens the central (14.30, Movistar).