Nadal tested in 3
MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s body withstood its toughest test yet at the Madrid Open as he needed three sets and more than three hours to get past 91st-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.
Nadal didn’t show any signs of physical limitations as he won 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 to make it to the round of 16 at the clay-court tournament where he is the record five-time champion. He will next face 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka.
“I took more risks in the third set, but it’s hard after so many months without competing,” Nadal said. “I hadn’t played a match like this in a long time. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m going to wake up. But I’m already happy for having won three matches in a row.”
The 37-year-old Nadal is trying to get in shape for next month’s French Open. Since his latest injury layoff, he’s had two matches in Barcelona and was pessimistic about his physical condition after arriving in Madrid. But he’s won three more times in the capital.
Related articles
Justin Timberlake set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia in 2025
Justin Timberlake is set to bring his The Forget Tomorrow World Tour to Australia next year.Daily Ma2024-05-21EDITORIAL: Diet ethics panels failing to unravel the tangled LDP funding scandal
Two weeks after it was held in the Lower House, the Deliberative Council on Political Ethics was fin2024-05-21West Coast Regional Council "closely monitoring" Taylorville Resource Park
An aerial view of Taylorville Resource Park, with the Greymouth town water treatment plant to the ri2024-05-21US launches more strikes against Houthis in Yemen
By Sam Cabral, for BBC News, WashingtonIn this photo released by the US military's Central Command o2024-05-21With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
GENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by2024-05-21Christopher Luxon tells team to fact
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says his team got their numbers wrong. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver2024-05-21
atest comment