The Spaniard beats Sonego in three sets and now meets the Dutchman Van de Zandschulp
MADRID, 2 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon this Saturday, the third ‘Grand Slam’ of a season in which he has won the other two disputed, by overcoming (6-1, 6-2, 6-4) the Italian Lorenzo Sonego, with an aggressive performance to the rest and on the fast track for the first time this week.
The champion of 22 ‘greats’, who will now face the Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp, took a step forward in his game with great intensity from the start that took his rival out of the game. The Italian was released in the third set, where the Central had to be closed to provide lighting, but Nadal had an answer to raise the level and continue in search of his third Wimbledon.
The Spaniard entered biting and Sonego soon gave up his serve (3-1). The doubts knocked down the Italian’s confidence, despite the fact that he had been playing well, unable to hurt Nadal even with two double faults in the same game. The man from Manacor smelled the blood and the Italian’s anxiety, giving up another ‘break’, left a 6-1.
Nadal’s determination gave him a 4-0 lead in the second set, killing each ball in the middle of the court and sinking Sonego into despair, who celebrated the 4-1 as a title. The Italian asked for the support of the stands, if he wanted to see some tennis, and little by little he connected with the match, although it was too late for the second round (6-2).
To close the act, the champion this year in Australia and Paris saw that he had to raise the level and that step gave him another ‘break’ as entry to the third set with a tremendous lob included. Sonego responded with a couple of volleys in the net and a face of more enjoyment that broke down in a reprimand from the Spaniard.
With 4-2 they closed the Central due to lack of light, about 15 minutes, and on the return Sonego won his serve and broke Nadal. After the ‘break’, the Spanish asked him to approach the net and the Italian was far from understanding the complaint. The two-time champion recovered the ‘break’ next and sealed his victory without further complications, although he did have a certain guilty conscience of having bothered his rival.
Nadal wins and takes a run against a rival more demanding than the previous two to enter the second week at Wimbledon with filming, almost no games on grass in the last three years, and better feelings. In the round of 16, the contender to complete the 2022 ‘Grand Slam’ will face a Van de Zandschulp whom he has already beaten, the only precedent, on his way to the 14th Roland Garros.