World No. 4 needed three sets and a crucial tie-break to qualify against David Goffin.
“Rafa” at the end of the suspension. After saving four points in total, the Spaniard qualifies for the quarterfinals of the Madrid Masters 1000. For the second return match in the competition, the world number 4 had all the difficulties in the world to get rid of his opponent. This time, his victim is called David Goffin.
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A victory in three sets 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9) for the Spaniard against the Belgian, excluded in 3:05 of the game. Nadal was very scared during this match. Mallorcani was quickly broken in the second set, to compete for the lead. He even had a first point match in service at 5-4, before conceding 3-0 and losing the second set.
A third set still close between the two men who went kick to kick, and logically slid towards the tie-break. A crucial game won 11-9 by Nadal, who saved three match points in this tie-break after a final long set of 1h21. He qualifies for a new quarterfinal in Madrid, the 99th of his Masters 1000 career.
This Tuesday, for his first match since March 20, Rafael Nadal defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 6-1, 7-6. A match however interrupted by rain. After the victory over David Goffin, “Rafa” won the 22nd game of the season, the one that has only one loss this season, in the final of Indian Wells, against Taylor Fritz.
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