Australian Open: Nadal makes a qualitative leap and passes over Carreo in three fast sets

He won 6-1, 6-2 and 6-4, in his best game so far in the competition, and qualifies for the round of 16, where Djokovic and Federer are already. Be measured with the winner of the Kyrgios-Khachanov.

One day after Novak Djokovic liquidated Yoshihito Nisioka in three quick sets, as he did previously with Tatsuma Ito, less than 24 hours have elapsed since Roger Federer escaped the abyss to beat John Millman and also win a place in eighth, Rafael Nadal beat 6-1, 6-2 and 6-4 to Pablo Carreo, in one hour and 38 minutes and joined the list of the 16 best. As long as the opposite is not proven, and even after Stefanos Tsitsipas, surprised in the third round by Milos Raonic, the tournament deserves to be seen from the perspective of the men who have won 13 of their 14 last editions, as Stan Wawrinka took The triumph in 2014.

After two unconvincing games, Nadal raised his credit in a great performance. Something will have to see the return to the day shift in Melbourne, where, according to consensus among the players, the ball flies more. Carreo, 30, could only run and run before an opponent toned, alive, to regain authority with the drive. The Spaniard attended a thunderous concert of the winner of the tournament in 2009, There is an unquestionable ancestry of Nadal in front of his countrymen, whom he intimidates even more than most of the circuit players. With this victory he adds 23 against Spaniards in Grand Slam tournaments, for only three defeats, the last one against Verdasco, in the first round of this Australian Open, in 2016.

The Asturian, without alternatives

Carreo had the initial set in a sigh, hardly realizing that he debuted at the Rod Laver Arena in the current edition of the tournament. Nadal was handled with forcefulness and skill, either through his header blow, with the revs cut or through high balls, poisonous alternatives that developed his rival. As the game continued, the fifth left-handed victory in many others against the semifinalist of the United States Open in 2017, which tries to recover strength already out of a period weighed down by injuries.

There was no response from Carreo, because it was not easy to find it before a player as enraged, determined to dispel the doubts he had generated so far, despite having resolved his first two duels in three sets. The gijons tried to speed up the game and let themselves be seen on the net, but everything proved useless. Nor did he prosper in attempts to open with the revs crossed over the drive of Nadal, who was waiting for him with a deadly reply in parallel. Carreo's greatest consolation was to have an initial advantage in the third set, until he reached 0-30 up in the second game. But Nadal, also better with the service, effective and regular, and with the blow of revs, broke once more in the fifth. There was no turning back. He is still alive in his career to match the 20 big Federer and, according to what was seen in this event, strengthened his tennis and his self-esteem.