Rafael Nadal took a huge step in his injury comeback scenario as the clay court icon scored a revenge win over Alex de Minaur on Saturday to progress to the Madrid Masters third round.
The 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory came barely a week after the 37-year-old who is playing only his third event of an injury-recovery season, lost to the 11th-ranked Australian in Barcelona.
Nadal owns five titles in the Spanish capital but has been fighting injury for much of the last two seasons.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner earned his first victory over a Top 20 opponent since November, 2022.
Nadal finished in two hours as de Minaur double-faulted on his opponent’s second match point in front of a madly pro-Nadal crowd at the Caja Magica.
But despite his second win in a row this week, Nadal is not yet ready to pronounce himself back to lethal form.
“I’m not back yet,, but for moments, there was a good level,” he said. “I was able to do positive things.
“I’m super-happy to be back competing again. We played over two hours, that means a lot to me.”
Nadal ended with 16 winners and 20 unforced errors, while de Minaur was 33 unforced.
The first set lasted an hour and a quarter, with Nadal seizing it on his fifth chance.
The crowd here broke to start the second set and came close to a double break; he had to be satisfied with a love game for 6-5 and a final break of his opponent to earn victory.
“The last two years it has been about physical issues for me, not tennis’ he said. ” Let’s see if I can play weeks in a row.
‘Let’s see how far I can go and how I recover.”
With Stefanos Tsitsipas upset earlier, Nadal’s quarter of the draw has opened; the Spaniard next faces Pedro Cachin of Argentina.
Doping sanction victim Simona Halep has gone online to protest her own treatment by anti-doping…
Rafael Nadal lined up for what was to be the final match of his career…
Jannik Sinner took charge in front of his home crowd on Sunday, crushing ATP Finals…
Daniil Medvedev went into meltdown mode on Sunday during a highly charged 6-4, 6-3 loss, with opponent…
Jannik Sinner could well be missing from the opening European clay event of next season…
Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…