Nadal saves two match points to overcome Shapavalov, Djokovic cruises into quarters
RAFAEL Nadal booked a spot into his 16th quarter- nal at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in dramatic fashion, having to save match points and rally from a set down in a threeand-a-half hour epic against 13th seed Denis Shapovalov on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic, earlier, had no such dif culty as he cruised past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina with a straightsets 6-2, 6-1 demolition.
Nadal, the nine-time champion trailed by 0-4 in the opening set, 0-3 in the second and saved two match points late in the third set as Shapovalov took control in their third-round clash on Campo Centrale. But Nadal was clutch in the high-pressure moments and steadily raised his level to secure the 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory for a spot in the last eight.
“(It) is an important victory for me (to) be able to win matches like today, three hours and 27 (minutes), in the Barcelona nal three hours and 38 (minutes), long matches,” said Nadal.
“To be able to win these kinds of matches against young players gives me con dence with my body. It’s true that I have to do things better for tomorrow. But the main thing today for me is (to) recover physically.”
The victory extends Nadal’s record to 19 wins in a row against fellow left-handed players – a streak dating back to the 2017 Coupe Rogers in Montreal, when 18-year-old Shapovalov defeated Nadal in their rst meeting.
“These matches, you have nothing to lose... I also think I have what it takes to beat these guys,” Shapovalov later re ected.
“It’s not a surprise to me. It’s just a tough loss. Of course, it’s not the rst time Rafa’s done this. I’m not the rst person to lose with match points. For sure, he does well with the pressure in those moments.
“Just something I have to take back and just make a couple changes. But I’m de nitely happy with where my game’s at, relatively speaking, against the greatest player on this surface.” Shapovalov raced out of the blocks and built up a double-break 4-0 lead, dictating with his booming forehand and regularly pulling Nadal out of position. Nadal needed a few games to nd his footing, and broke back at 4-2 to cut down the de cit, but Shapovalov had him back under pressure again at 5-3.
The Canadian broke through once more after winning a marathon game, denying Nadal ve chances to close it out and converting his fourth set point when Nadal buried a backhand into the net.
As ATP and WTA players including Jannik Sinner and Kristina Mladenovic took to the stands to witness the potential upset brewing at Campo Centrale, the 13th seed got out to another big lead with an early break in the second set.
But Nadal held rm to shake off a point for a double break to make it 3-1. Nadal let out a roar, and the moment marked a turning point in the contest as the Spaniard reeled off four games to take a 5-3 lead – his rst lead of the match – and clinched the second set.
Once again Shapovalov opened the third set with a break for 3-1, but this time Nadal capitalised on a shaky service game to get them back on serve straight away. With Shapovalov struggling to nd
rst serves, Nadal created four more break opportunities in the nal set.
The Spaniard was in danger once again as Shapovalov applied the pressure at 6-5,
ghting his way to two match points. But a wayward backhand from the Canadian and a forehand winner from Nadal extended his stay in the contest, sending them into a tiebreak. Experience marked the difference in the decider as Nadal kept his cool to reel off four points in a row for a 4 1 lead before closing out the victory in three hours and 27 minutes.
“(This) has been a positive victory for me,” Nadal said. “I (fought) until the end a lot to be in quarter- nals. Tomorrow is a chance to play a quarternal match. I hope to be ready to compete well.” Into a record-extending 97th quarternal at the ATP Masters 1000 level, second seed Nadal meets Alexander verev who beat and former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
World number Djokovic one took just an hour and 10 minutes in contrast to wrap up an emphatic victory.
Fokina broke the top seed’s serve in the rst game of the match, but that proved to be a false dawn for the Spanish quali er.
Djokovic put the 21-yearold under huge pressure with another returning masterclass, breaking back immediately and on two more occasions to seal the rst set.
The 18-time Grand Slam champion was relentless in the second set, forcing Fokina’s unforced error count up to 30 as he breezed into the last eight.
Djokovic, who has reached at least the quarter- nal stage in each of his 15 appearances at the prestigious tournament in Rome, was waiting to learn whether he would face Stefanos Tsitsipas, who downed Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (3), 6-2, for a place in the semi- nals.