Indian Wells: the battered Nadal beats Opelka and goes to the quarterfinals: ‘But it was difficult’

With two tie-breaks Rafa Nadal overcomes the obstacle Riley Opelka and qualifies for the quarter-finals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, also retouching his season record of eighteen consecutive victories. “It was difficult,” said Rafa in the post game. “He’s one of the toughest opponents on the Tour, it’s hard to control his serve and his right but I think I’ve played the best match of the tournament so far.” In short, a painful victory for the Majorcan who in the post-race also confessed to still living with foot problems: “To be honest in the second set I felt a bit of pain. I managed to run until the end but I can’t lie or hide the reality ”. In the next round Nadal, three-time champion in California (2007, 2009, 2013), will meet Australian Nick Kyrgios who benefited from Jannik Sinner’s retirement due to flu problems.

Record-breaking Alcaraz

–

He is getting closer and closer to a direct confrontation in the semifinals with his idol, Carlos Alcaraz, who like Nadal is engaged in the upper part of the draw. The 18-year-old Spaniard literally overwhelmed Frenchman Gael Monfils 7-5, 6-1, winning his first quarter-final in a Masters 1000 and also becoming the youngest player to reach the quarter-finals of the BNP Paribas Open since the 17-year-old. Michael Chang, in 1989. The last obstacle that stands in the Next Gen from the derby with Nadal bears the name of Cameron Norrie (n. 12 Atp), victorious over Brooksby with a quick 6-2 6-4.

Bottom Half

–

In a deserted lower part of the board, the top seed number 7 Andrey Rublev advances quickly, who only needed the minimum of partials to get rid of the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, eliminated with a score of 7-6 (5) 6-4. For the Russian who, thanks to this result, further improves his seasonal record of 12 consecutive victories, this is the first qualification to the quarter-finals of the tournament, where he will meet the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (b.John Isner for 6-3 7-6 ( 6). Among the four Americans who reached the second round, therefore, only Taylor Fritz is saved, victorious in comeback over De Minaur for 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5). Miomir Kecmanovic, executioner of the blue Matteo Berrettini.