ATP Masters Rome: match balls blocked - Rafael Nadal with comeback victory against Denis Shapovalov
Rafael Nadal moved into the semifinals at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome after defending against two match points. The record winner in the Foro Italico defeated Denis Shapovalov 3: 6, 6: 4 and 7: 6 (2).
by tennisnet.com
last edit: May 13, 2021, 05:48 pm
Denis Shapovalov is by no means the first player on the ATP tour to hold out his little finger to Rafael Nadal - and only moments later to find out that the whole hand is gone. As in the second set of the round of 16 at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome: Shapovalov led 6: 3 and 3: 0, had several breakballs to extend this lead. And not only wasted this, but also the next game, in which he could not use a 40-0 lead as a server. Nadal had already shown great taker qualities against Jannik Sinner and was behind with a break in the second half. And still caught the Italian.
But Denis Shapovalov also took the lead with a break in the third set, this time to 3-1. Which means little against Rafael Nadal on sand - because the nine-time champion from Rome immediately equalized. In the twelfth game, Shapovalov earned two match points when Nadal served - but the Spaniard fought them off after a playing time of more than three hours. What took Shapovalov the last nerve - the tiebreak went smoothly with 7: 2 to the favorites.
In the quarter-finals, the task will be even more difficult. Especially when Alexander Zverev lives up to his favorite position against Kei Nishikori.
In the early matches, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas were able to qualify for the round of the last eight. The two meet on Friday.
Here the single tableau in Rome
rommap