Tennis | Nadal solves another predicament

A Rafael Nadal more human, like the one who competed in his beginnings in this Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell that has seen him grow, he got rid of the Japanese Kie nishikori (6-0, 2-6 and 6-2) in the round of 16 in a bizarre, irregular match, lasting two hours and 19 minutes, in which both players were capable of their best and worst, and that He ended up wearing the manacorí for his perseverance and pride. Nadal will face the British Cameron norrie this Friday after giving up two sets for the first time in his first two matches at the Count Godó.

In position 39 of the ranking at 31 years old, martyred by injuries in recent seasons, already from the first game Nishikori's instability was appreciated, who committed up to three unforced errors that opened the locker in favor of Nadal (1- 0). The manacorí was limited to fulfilling his deep blows, returning balls over and over again until the Japanese threw them beyond the line or smashed them against the net. It wasn't until the fourth game that the world number three lifted the crowd from their seats by subtracting two impossible shots and making the point.. It was 30-40 with 3-0 on the scoreboard.

The outcome of the first set was as expected. Nishikori was unhinged, staring at the ground, missing undemanding blows, so the 6-0 came in a natural way, like everything that surrounds Nadal, in just half an hour of play. Also human was the reaction of the Japanese in the second set. Nishikori's courage, which gave another rhythm to the match and the blows that went away earlier now touched the line, gave another color to the match: Suddenly, the set turned face to face for the Japanese: 1-3 and advantage to get 1-4. Nadal turned the tables and got 2-3, but the Japanese's reaction was not a mirage (2-5). The set was awarded 2-6 in a blink of an eye and with the impotence of Nadal.

The memory of Rio 2016 and the rebirth of the third set

In his career, Nadal had beaten him 11 of the 13 times he had faced Nishikori. One of those defeats was one of the most bitter in the Manacorí's career, and it occurred at the Rio Olympics in 2016, when he lost the bronze by losing 6-2, 6-7 and 6-3 in the match for third and fourth place. On the floor of the Real Club Tenis de Barcelona, ​​the third set could mean one more victory or an unexpected defeat.

The first game of the third set was a metaphor for the match played on the cloudy day in Barcelona. Nadal started losing 0-40 and ended up winning the game with five points in a row, with an excellent exercise of defensive shots until he finished with the patience of his opponent. That was going to be the keynote for a balanced third set that was resolved blow by blow and meter by meter by the constancy of Nadal, who broke the service and went away 3-1. A turning point. Too much cost for an exhausted Nishikori.

With 5-2, the Godó crowd congratulated themselves on their star's continuity in the tournament, although they saw him wobble again, as in 2015 when Italian Fabio Fignioni eliminated him in two sets. But this time Nadal rebuilt. With more effort than usual, he has been planted in the quarterfinals. Apparently so far, each game is going to be a battle for the 34-year-old from Manacor, like tomorrow's against Norrie, who will be more rested, by defeating Belgian David Goffin 6-0 and 3-5 (he left the rival ).

Match statistics.