Nadal is still alive and exciting in Madrid

MADRID, 29 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal qualified this Monday for the round of 16 of the Mutua Madrid Open, the fourth Masters 1000 of the season being held at the Caja Mágica, after beating the Argentine Pedro Cachín in a tough match decided in three sets (6 -1, 6-7, 6-3) and more than three hours long.

The Balearic player had more work than expected against a rival who went from less to more and who tested the physique of the winner of 22 'Grand Slams', who will now face Czech Jiri this Tuesday for a place in the quarterfinals Lehecka, thirtieth favorite. It will be his fourth game in a row, something he has not experienced since the 2022 US Open.

The former world number one encountered resistance from Cachín, but was never really in danger of being eliminated, surely against all odds, especially after his victory on Saturday against the Australian Alex de Minaur. The Spaniard played three sets and, apparently, did not suffer from his punished physical condition, good news in order to continue taking steps forward towards the future.

Nadal's start in once again crowded Manolo Santana was optimal. The Manacorí broke his rival's first serve and settled long before the South American player, 91st in the world, with more confidence in the long rallies that have already begun to be seen between two 'earthlings'.

The former world number one soon gained an even greater lead to get the first set back on track. The 'drive' began to work and was a martyrdom for a Cachín who did not get the pulse of the game and who 'gave away' too many points. A third break ended the set, although it lasted well (46 minutes) for the legs of Nadal, author of 13 winners.

However, the Argentine did not want to be a mere guest at the 'party' and managed to free himself to toughen the duel. He helped him achieve his first break and get ahead in the match because little by little his blows from the bottom began to do much more damage to Manacor's player, who was now uncomfortable in the match for the first time.

Even so, the five-time champion in Madrid was able to recover the break quickly, but this time Cachín not only did not allow it with two good serves but he was able to break again afterwards to definitively bring the uncertainty to the stands after a sensational two-handed backhand and a great 'deception' with his wrist near the net.

But from there, the game changed scene again. Nadal, true to his character, did not get carried away and did not disconnect from the sleeve thinking about reserving his strength. He gradually recovered his solidity from the bottom to recover a 'break' and stalk his rival, whom he forgave in the eighth game to put him close to a third set.

Cachín was unable to overcome the tension of this moment and raised the mood of the stands after losing his decisive serve in a long game where he had two set points. In a moment of 'madness', the Argentine easily broke serve to go 6-5 up, but lost it blank to play a tie-break against Manolo Santana devoted to his idol.

'Sudden Death' was faithful to the development of the set. Cachín got it back on track (4/1 and two serves), but he didn't take advantage of it and Nadal wasn't fine either. The Argentine, with a tremendous 'pass' on a rise after the Spaniard's serve, finally extended a match that soon once again had the color of the Balearic, again ahead with a quick 'break'. The Argentine did not want to give up, he raised a 15-40 and broke again to restore equality to the match, just barely, because Nadal, who gave the feeling of fresher, broke again and did not waste his advantage to win. one more life in the Magic Box.