Rafael Nadal marched into the pre-quarters of the Madrid Open 2024 after beating Pedro Cachin from Argentina 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-4 at Manolo Santana Stadium on Monday, April 29. It took Nadal 3 hours and 4 minutes to fight past his opponent.
The first set was a completely one-sided affair in favour of Nadal, who broke his opponent’s serve 3 times. Nadal had to fight out of his skin in the second set. After going a double break down, he earned both breaks back to make it 4-4. However, Cachin broke Nadal’s serve yet again and had a chance to serve the set out at 6-5.
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Nadal was not willing to throw in the towel and managed to take the set into a tie-breaker. Trailing 1-4, the Spaniard found himself on the backfoot for the nth time in the set. Nadal tried to hold on, but Cachin held on to his nerves and took the match into a deciding set.
In the third set, Nadal took an early break and from there on, he did not look back. Cachin had his moments, but they were just not enough for him to have the last laugh. In the Round of 16, Nadal will lock horns with Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Qualifier Thiago Monteiro.
Swiatek through to quarters
World No.1 Iga Swiatek made her way through to the quarters of the women’s singles. The Pole defeated Spain’s Sara Sorribes Tormo in the Round of 16 match on Monday, April 29. At the Manolo Santana, it took Swiatek only an hour and 7 minutes to beat her Spanish opponent 6-1, 6-0.
With the win, the 22-year-old Swiatek made it 4-0 against Sorribes Tormo at the WTA level. In the quarters, Swiatek will next be up against Brazil’s Beatriz Haddad Maia, who knocked Maria Sakkari out with a straight sets win.
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