ATP | Nadal comes back from Shapovalov and saves two match points

If someone missed the most epic Rafa Nadal, this Thursday he was able to see him again in the round of 16 in Rome. In the arena of the Centrale of the Foro Italico, already with an audience in the stands, the Spaniard acted as a gladiator to withstand the barrage of winning blows (41) of Denis Shapovalov, come back from a down set situation and 0-3 in the second and win in the third set tiebreaker after lifting two match points just before: 3-6, 6-4 and 7-6 (3) in three hours and 27 minutes. The 22-year-old Canadian 14th in the world played the match of his life on clay and still failed to beat the best player in tennis history on that surface. This explains the extreme difficulty of beating the Balearic Islands on his land when conditions also favor him.

His 65th victory at the Italian 1,000 Masters, puts Nadal in the quarterfinals for the 16th time in 17 starts, a round that will play for the 97th time (absolute record) in the category. He will do it this Friday (not before 12:00, #Vamos) against the German Alexander Zverev, who beat him a week ago at the same heights in Madrid and also came back, although a little faster (2h: 52) and with less drama, to beat Japanese Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-3 and 6-4.

Shapovalov got with an impressive 4-0 start in the first set that chroniclers like a server will look for donuts against Nadal on clay. And they have been very rare: only Gastón Gaudio in Buenos Aires 2005, Guillermo Coria in Monte Carlo 2007 and Roger Federer in Hamburg 2007 managed to put a 6-0 to the Spaniard on their favorite surface. Nadal did not lead to a quarter because at least he reacted to cut it down to 5-3. The bad thing for him is that that effort threw him overboard when he conceded a third break that forced him to start the second set for the rest. It is true that his rival had embroidered it until then and he deserved the prize of getting ahead on the scoreboard. Rarely does Rafa lose his serve three times in the same set on clay and the credit for that happened went to Denis. Manacor also helped with a poor 50% of points won with first.

Nadal had no choice but to attack. The problem is that Shapovalov defended himself quite well, with agility and precision.. He also fought back with his aesthetic and powerful one-handed backhand. Only the fighting ethic and the quality of the world number three managed to defeat him at times. The dynamics did not change much and the Tel Aviv-born tennis player again put land in the middle of the exit, with 3-0, ball for 4-0 and a 40-0 to put later the 4-1. The situation could not be more critical for the winner of 20 Grand Slams. And there the Nadal caste emerged, who for the first time in the match took the lead with two consecutive breaks for a 5-0 run. The winners were already entering him, he mastered the rhythm and directions, and thus recharged the confidence that he lacked. With its service, not very fast and of little and intermittent efficiency, took the duel to the final third set.

End of heart attack

The drive and an improvement in Rafa's serves they were the keys to consummate the comeback and he refined them. Increased speed and placement. Shapovalov was forced to try new things, like uploading more to the network. And when he seemed most harassed, he again found the hole for a new break, which did not guarantee anything either, given the future of the meeting. Nadal made the counterbreak thanks to a tremendous forehand that he celebrated with a shout: Vanmooooooooos! The level of shock at the time was enormous. The one from Manacor had a ball to the rest to get 4-3 up and the Canadian held. He also saved the nine-time champion's next attempt in Rome.. And the third with two break points against. Tremendous. Nadal was able to force the tiebreaker with much trouble due to two match point situations for Shapovalov (30-40 plus). And it is that just in the transcendental eleventh game he did not enter the first. In the tie-break, Shapovalov was caught, double faulted and hit the net with an easy drive. With a 1-4, Rafa had to finish and thanks to his infinite experience he did not fail.

Results Masters 1.000 Rome.