ATP Masters Rome: Rafael Nadal tames service monster Reilly Opelka and moves into the final
Rafael Nadal is in the final of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Rome for the twelfth time in his career. The Spaniard defeated the strong American Reilly Opelka 6: 4 and 6: 4.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: May 15, 2021, 05:39 pm
On the way to the semifinals, Reilly Opelka had not given up a set or serve and the 23-year-old also demonstrated his excellent form early on in the semi-final game against Rafael Nadal. With cracking basic strokes, the American organized four breakballs in the second service game of the world number three, but Nadal knew how to fend off all of them.
It should be something like the beginning of the end for Opelka, because the 20-time Grand Slam champion found his game better and better afterwards and took the world number 47. the serve to 3: 2. This break was enough for Nadal to bag the first set 6-4.
In the second round, the 34-year-old managed a quick break to make it 2-1. Opelka, who had unusual problems in the first ATP Masters 1000 semifinals of his career, especially with the first serve, tried everything again, but couldn't find a way back into the match.
With the 6: 4 and 6: 4 success, Nadal qualified for his twelfth final in the Italian capital. In this he will meet the winner of the match between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Soengo on Sunday ( from 6:30 p.m. live in the match tracker ).
Here is the men's single tableau
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