ATP Masters Madrid: Rafael Nadal saves 4 match points against Goffin! Now against Alcaraz?
Rafael Nadal (ATP No. 4) is in the quarterfinals of the Masters tournament in Madrid. In the end he won against David Goffin in a battle of nerves 6: 3, 5: 7, 7: 6 (9)
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: May 05, 2022, 07:49 pm
It looked like a relaxed afternoon, but then Rafael Nadal had to go into extra time again. When the score was 6: 3 and 5: 3, Nadal had already had a match point, and at 5: 4 he had one on his own serve, but Goffin managed the rebreak. And that's not all: He took his chance in the next service game, attacked Nadal's second serves with determination - and equalized the set with a brutal forehand. And not undeservedly so: Goffin had now become more offensive and had turned the winner/unforced errors balance sheet.
Until then, Nadal had actually had the box under control: he gave up an early break in the first set straight away, but then got one again to make it 5: 3 and served out. And took the service from Goffin again in the second round to make it 2-1, was sovereign on his own serve - until... well.
Nadal has strong nerves with match points against himself
Then in the third set a tight service game at the beginning with two break chances for Nadal, but Goffin parried.
In the tie-break it was pure drama: Nadal took a 4-1 lead, but Goffin made it 6-4 with an offensive game; on the second match ball (on his own serve) his forehand got stuck on the edge of the net. Nadal fended off another match point at 6: 7 with a clear stop, with Nadal's following match point Goffin thundered a smash onto the line. And at 9: 8 for Goffin? Nadal unpacked another stop... Then Nadal: determined with the forehand whip to match point number 4 - and then Goffin's forehand ended up just off.
Nadal meets the winner of the game between Carlos Alcaraz and Cameron Norrie in the round of eight.
Nadal with comeback in Madrid
Nadal is making his comeback at the Masters tournament in Madrid: After his great start to the season (also actually a comeback after his foot surgery) with three tournament victories, including the Australian Open, Nadal fractured his ribs in Indian Wells.
He didn't arrive in top form in Madrid, he explained, but with the doctor's blessing that he could play again. The good thing: Against Goffin he has now collected a lot of match practice...
Nadal's main focus is of course on the French Open, which starts on May 22nd, where "Rafa" wants to win his 14th title.
He played his first match in Madrid on Wednesday, against Miomir Kecmanovic, and was mostly convincing .
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