Australian Open: quarter-finals! Rafael Nadal impressed against Fognini
Rafael Nadal made it into the round of eight in Melbourne with a convincing three-set win against Fabio Fognini.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Feb 15, 2021, 07:59 am
Nadal won 6: 3, 6: 4 and 6: 1 at the end of a very high-class match. In the course of this, Fognini also convinced with strong point wins - in the end, however, Nadal was always on the trigger when it mattered.
An early break at the start of the match, the short-term equalization - then Nadal stayed in front without being in danger. He earned 19 breakballs in total and was successful 6 times. In the end it was only 24 winners compared to Fogninis 32, the Italian showed his quick arm stroke quite often. However, he made 15 more mistakes without need.
Nadal: Well against Tsitsipas or Berrettini
Nadal is now waiting for the winner of the game between Stefanos Tsitsipas or Fognini's compatriot Matteo Berrettini.
Nadal started the Australian Open with back problems and, according to his own statements, had to change his service movement at the beginning of the tournament. And hoped for a new method of treatment that apparently worked. After his third round victory, Nadal had given the all-clear.
The match against Fognini, who was seeded at 16, was seen as a test of form, which Nadal passed in an impressive manner.
Nadal: No more stress with Fognini
The Italian had previously won 4 times in 16 matches with the second in the world rankings. Especially remembered: a duel in 2015 in which both rattled together. But after-effects of this are no longer there, Nadal had explained in the run-up to the AO duel. "I have a very good relationship with him. Of course we had our story on the pitch a few years ago, but there are no more problems with that. I always try to have a good relationship with everyone in the locker room. That's life much more relaxed, right? "
Here is the men's single tableau
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