ATP Masters Monte Carlo: Rafael Nadal with a lesson for Federico Delbonis
RafaelNada l started the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo with a masterly performance. The Spanish record champion defeated Federico Delbonis 6: 1 and 6: 2 and is now playing against Grigor Dimitrov .
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Apr 14, 2021, 03:58 pm
10: 2 winning strokes and 4:11 unforced errors: This is what the statistics looked like after those 31 minutes of playing time that Rafael Nadal needed to get the first set at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo against Federico Delbonis. As if he had never been away from the red ashes, his last match was from the French Open last autumn in Roland Garros. Nadal played two sets of extraterrestrial tennis in the final against Novak Djokovic. And finally got his 13th title.
Against Delbonis, Nadal delivered a solid performance for his standards - which is of course still extremely good by the standards of normal mortal players. In this respect, however, astonishing, because Delbonis, as a left-hander, is not so susceptible to Nadal's forehand cross. And the Argentine has already played three matches, including two in qualifying - while Nadal was last seen at the Australian Open. The next opponent after the 6: 1 and 6: 2 will be Grigor Dimitrov, who was able to assert himself against Jeremy Chardy in two sets. For Nadal it was the 72nd match win in Monte Carlo.
Before Nadal, Novak Djokovic had already delivered a masterpiece: The Serb defeated a brisk Jannik Sinner 6: 4 and 6: 2. And in the round of 16 he has to deal with Daniel Evans, who easily won against a battered Hubert Hurkacz. Pleasing from the French point of view: returnees Lucas Pouille celebrated his next success, this time in three sets against Alexei Popyrin.
Here the single tableau in Monte Carlo
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