(EFE) – Rafael Nadal struggled to put away countryman Nicolas Almagro but eventually secured a 6-3, 7-5 second-round victory at the Rio Open to set up a quarterfinal clash against Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Rafa was mostly able to dictate play on Guga Kuerten Court. He was shaky toward the end of the contest, however, losing his serve twice in a row, including squandering a chance to serve out the victory at 5-4 and failing to convert two match points.
But Almagro was far less effective, losing his final three service games and winning only 59 percent of his first-serve points for the match, compared to 70 percent for Rafa.
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Nicolas Almagro of Spain, during a Rio Open tennis match, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal se seca el rostro antes de un servicio ante su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal prepara un servicio ante su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve una bola contra su compatriota Nicolás Almagro hoy, jueves 18 de febrero de 2016, durante el torneo Rio Open de Tenis, en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro (Brasil). EFE/ Antonio Lacerda
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball to Nicolas Almagro of Spain, during a Rio Open tennis match, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point against Nicolas Almagro of Spain, during a Rio Open tennis match, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory against Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory against Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – FEBRUARY 18: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory against Nicolas Almagro of Spain during the Rio Open at Jockey Club Brasileiro on February 18, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
Source: EFE
Congratulations on a great win Rafa. Love to see you happy and smiling. Every match you win will strengthen your confidence. Play aggressive and take the ball early and as I said once before you will be unbeatable. You know this Rafa, I know that you do. So I hope you consistently take the ball early — if you play this way, you will automatically play agressively and you WILL win. Stay healthy and God bless you. Love, Marylynn.
Felicidades Rafa ganes ompierdas siempreseras mi favorito y el mejor. Vzmos Rafs
We’ll Done Rafa a win is a win and he will take from this and hopefully improve on his next round of course he is nervous that’s only to be expected but still a lot of tennis to come from Rafa
Rafa will retire when he himself knows the time is right not by negative comments received from so called fans !!!! Tennis would be so boring without Rafa and also Federer so we should be lucky they are both still playing even though they are not winning as they used too but it’s still great to have Rafa playing and long may he continue Good luck in your next match
Congrat Dear Rafa,
Great match.
God be with you.
We love you WIN or LOSE
J Beer and Move in or Move on, both negative as ever. I ask about their mentality and attitude not just to Rafael but to life in general. Wish they would understand sport. I guess both are ” armchair” supporters!!
Take the positives from Rafael’s victory, Best of luck to Rafael v Dolgolpolov. True supporters stay firm in good and not so good days.
Totally agree with your comments
Elizabeth there sad trolls with nothing better to do with there lives…easy to make nasty jibes on here wouldn’t say it to his face though..faceless idiots …J Beer is 74 year old man!!! They prob know nothing about tennis ..just enjoy being nasty…how sad is that
Congrats Rafa. Good luck for the next round. Vamos Rafa <3 <3 <3
For me the match from rafa was good from thenpoint of view that in 1 st game and a game in 1 st when rafa was 0-40 down he held his nerves and served and played good points in this important moments
This was the actual problem rafa facing from last year he would play good but he get this nerves on important points and with today with a lot fearless opponent rafa was losing matches …..and because his nerves on important points it was denting his confidence …
And just because of confidence rafa hands get locked on important points which causes ball to land shorter
Yet in this match the cross court forehand, the inside out forehand, backhand from rafa was good but he still need to be consitent on his shota landing area whichbis 1-2 meter behind service box area
rafa was inconsitent on that area …..rafa needs to win long rallies and should play more inside out forehand which he was not using in previous year
u can see rafa when get 0-30 down he just get so upset and demoralise this days …..he should not do this …..he is 14 grandslams winner …..he faced such situations and come uo with solutions
if rafa come up with solutions on important points like he did in this match in 1 st game and when he was 0- 40 down there on winning that game will help his confidence to boost
at last it was good win to have aginst opponent who just beaten ferrer in straight sets
the big match is nxt one since the opponent is fearless in hitting his furious shots and have fast serves
rafa needs good serve in this match
he should really now call someone to get his serve right
Rafa’s level of play was good enough to beat a very erratic and error-prone Almagro, but not nearly good enough to compete for major titles. I hate to say it, but he’s getting worse, not better. His downward spiral continues.
congrats RAFA!!!!!!!!
We love you!!!!!!!
RAFA fan forever
Ola & VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) Great match photos…..: ) Your victories are filled with excitement & your AMAZING strong & powerful Tennis is delightful !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You are playing superbly & it was clear right from the start that you were going to win! : ) ci….ci….ci….. Very happy for you!!!!!! : ) Your passion & feisty RETURNS & your great serve were top notch…..good for you!!!!!!!!!!! So beautiful to watch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) You have an intuitive genius to know how to mix your serve & your returns……VAMOS ……VAMOS……..VAMOS………we loved seeing your stubborn command on the court & how you sent him side to side with your aggressive powerful play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) KUDOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 That was lots of fun!!!!! : ) Your hard work is brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Have a great time with THE TEAM & enjoy a beautiful evening!!!!!! : )
Vamos rafaluna
Being sarcastic? 🙂
No just kidding, I didn’t see the match but Rafa has to stop losing this many service games…
Otherwise to good matches if you look at the results.
What can we say. He’s playing like he has for 2 years. Like sh#t…
I was disappointed with Rafa’s play in spots, but it was very hot and humid. It is easy for me to criticize from my living room. I am just happy that he won.
Hot and humid? Yeah, that’s always the reason right?
If Rafa wins then no complain of weather or else you will blame the weather.
Rafa ‘s forehand was shaky like thousand times in 2015. This is obviously not his first time.
Congrats, Rafael. Fight on💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
Pleased for your win. Hope you are able to”steady the ship”. Always a true fan.
Best always
Well done again Rafa, hard fought match but good results. Vamos👍👏👏😀