He meets his first ‘executioner’ of 2022, the American Taylor Fritz
MADRID, 4 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Wimbledon tournament, the third ‘Grand Slam’ of the season, after beating the Dutch Botic van de Zandschulp on Monday (6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6 )), and meets in the next round with the American Taylor Fritz, his first ‘executioner’ of 2022.
The world number four, winner of the British ‘big’ in 2008 and 2010, had to work hard to advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament for the eighth time and beat a rival who put up a fight in a demanding match on center court of the All England Club.
And it is that the Spaniard ran into a firm Van de Zandschulp in the rest, something that allowed him to save the two ‘break’ balls that he faced in the second game of the opening quarter, and courageous to go up to the net.
Confidently and without taking excessive risks, he did not lose his temper and waited for his chance, which came in a tenth game in which he finally managed to break his opponent’s serve. It was then that the best Nadal emerged.
He started the second set defending against the Dutchman’s first break chance before sealing his first break of the set and going 3-0 up. Van de Zandschulp held on in the following games and neutralized Nadal’s first two set points but was powerless against the third.
Only one more set separated Manacor from the quarterfinals, which had to recover after the world number 25 broke him in the opening game (0-1). He responded with a ‘counterbreak’ and again armed himself with patience to provoke the Dutchman’s error.
With a backhand crosscourt ‘passing shot’, he broke Van de Zandschulp’s serve again to put the duel back on track with another blank game (5-2). However, the Dutch replied with a ‘break’ in the ninth game that precipitated the ‘tie-break’.
After taking a 2-0 lead, Nadal was met by Van de Zandschulp’s response in another ‘minibreak’. At 6-3, he wasted three match points and allowed his opponent to balance the sudden death (6-6), but managed to pull himself together to seal the victory in two hours and 21 minutes of play.
Now, it will be measured in the quarterfinals precisely with its first ‘executioner’ in 2022, the American Taylor Fritz, who defeated the Australian Jason Kubler in his round of 16 match (6-3, 6-1, 6-4) and who has not lost not a single set at Wimbledon.
The North American, current number 14 in the world, ended the undefeated Balearic – who had accumulated 20 consecutive wins – by beating him in the final of the Masters 1,000 in Indian Wells, and later he was also proclaimed champion in Eastbourne. This Wednesday he will seek to add the ninth victory followed by him.