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. |
Commentary: China, a doer in advancing global climate governanceCommentary: China, a doer in advancing global climate governanceChina to firmly support highCIIE: a vivid reality of the world sharing Chinese opportunitiesAnger as new Rector claims Glasgow University 'colludes in murder of innocents'Anqing developed agriculture and ecological breeding industries to expand incomeCommentary: CIFTIS opens door of cooperation wider for shared benefitQiongzhou Strait faced peak of return travel during Spring Festival migrationIgnoring realityFamily of heiress who drowned are to sue her husband who was accused of killing her