Mannarino too diminished against Nadal despite an anthology tie-break

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Rafael Nadal, 5th in the world, overcame the resistance of Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (69th) in the first set, before rolling out, winning 7-6 (16/14), 6-2, 6-2 and thus qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. “The first set was
very nervous. I was a little lucky because I had chances, but so was he, ”analyzed the 35-year-old Spaniard.

“I am very happy to have survived this first set, without the slightest doubt! “, he added. “Then the break at the start of the second set was very important. Titled in 2009, Nadal will face German Canadian Denis Shapovalov on Tuesday, surprise drop of Zverev in three rounds.

Under a blazing sun, Mannarino made life difficult for the Spaniard in the first round, where the two players played at a very high level and which lasted 81 minutes. At 5-5, the French got a break point saved by his opponent and the two men came to the tie-break, which was breathtaking both in terms of the quality of the game and the intensity and suspense.

During this decisive game which lasted 28 minutes (!), Nadal saved four set points and concluded with his seventh! He had never needed so many points (30) to win a decisive game on the circuit. But, later, the Mannarino dyke, possibly affected in the abdominals, surrendered. He lost the second set in 39 minutes, then, after deceiving himself by breaking at the very start of the third set to come back to 1-1, he dropped four games in a row. Serving for the win of the match at 5-2, Nadal concluded on his first match point.

The Australian Open is the only Major that Nadal, joint record holder of Grand Slam titles (20) with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, has won only once. He lived through a 2021 season truncated by a foot injury and suffered from Covid-19 in December but, in the absence of his two main rivals, he is asserting himself lap after lap as a very serious candidate for the title. . It would be his 21st Grand Slam, a new record.


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