ATP Masters Monte Carlo: Andrey Rublev shocks Rafael Nadal in three sets
Andrey Rublevstopped RafaelNadal's attack on a twelfth title in the quarter-finals at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo. The Russian won 6: 2, 4: 6 and 6: 2.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Apr 16, 2021, 08:18 pm
Rublev set an exclamation point right from the start, taking Nadal's serve from the very first attempt. The Spaniard hadn't experienced so much resistance in his two previous matches against Federico Delbonis or Grigor Dimitrov . Nadal broke straight back, but had massive problems with his serve. Five double errors in set one alone, that doesn't happen often with a Rafael Nadal. After 40 minutes of play, the first act went 6-2 to the outsider.
It continued in this key. Nadal offered Rublev a break chance with the next double fault, the Russian gladly accepted. This time Rublev was able to confirm the lead with a little effort, the cheers from Nadal's box got louder. The Grand Master tried to react, Rublev held against it. In the fifth game, Nadal fended off three more break opportunities, which he needed more than eleven minutes.
In the semifinals against Ruud
A few moments later, it was Rublev who showed nerves of steel - and blocked Nadal's four chances to equalize. Rublev couldn't use the small match ball to make it 5-2 on Nadal's serve. At this point, the second round alone was already an hour old. And Nadal actually fought for his comeback - with a point that Rublev presented him on the serving plate. The 5: 4 in the second set meant the first lead in the match for Nadal. And because he is the greatest clay court player of all time, Nadal did not let himself be asked for long: set compensation after 1:52 hours of play.
At least now Rublev felt the strains of his round of 16 game against Roberto Bautista Agut, which had also taken almost three hours on Thursday. All the more astonishing that the Muscovite also started the decision with a break. And after Nadal's immediate equalization, he pulled away to 5: 1. Once Rafael Nadal managed to get through his service, but Rublev used his first match point with a cracking forehand.
As an opponent in the semifinals,Casper Ruud is now waiting, who was able to assert himself in two sets against Fabio Fognini , who won the last edition of the tournament in Monte Carlo in 2019. The second semifinals will be played by Stefanos Tsitsipas and Djokovic host Daniel Evans on Saturday. Tsitsipas' opponent, the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, had to retire after losing the first set. Evans defeated David Goffin in three sets.
Here the single tableau in Monte Carlo
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