The fourth seed and three-time champion Rafael Nadal has sealed a place in the fourth round of Indian Wells after beating countryman and fellow lefty Fernando Verdasco 6-0, 7-6(9) in California.
Our champ saved five set points as he rallied from a 6-3 deficit in the tie-break, claiming victory on his second match point after one hour and 41 minutes. He had stormed through the first set against his doubles partner, losing just six points on serve.
Rafa’s next match will be against Alexander Zverev, who beat 16th seed Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2.
Rafael Nadal of Spain and Fernando Verdasco of Spain pose for a photo before their match , March 15, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. / AFP / ROBYN BECK
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain stretches for a backhand during his straight set victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand during his straight set victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand during his straight set victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his straight set victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
A fan supporting Rafael Nadal, of Spain, holds a sign as Nadal plays Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain, March 15, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. / AFP / ROBYN BECK
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot to Fernando Verdasco of Spain, March 15, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. / AFP / ROBYN BECK (Photo credit should read ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reaches to return to Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his match against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (March 14, 2016 – Source: Julian Finney/Getty Images North America)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates winning a point against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his straight set victory over Fernando Verdasco of Spain at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (March 14, 2016 – Source: Harry How/Getty Images North America)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Fernando Verdasco of Spain during day nine of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, left, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco of Spain, March 15, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. / AFP / ROBYN BECK
Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco of Spain, March 15, 2016 at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California. / AFP / ROBYN BECK
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to his final point of the match to beat Fernando Verdasco of Spain in straight sets at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 15: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts to his final point of the match to beat Fernando Verdasco of Spain in straight sets at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 15, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, hits a ball into the stands after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts after defeating Fernando Verdasco, of Spain, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Tuesday, March 15, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Source: BNP Paribas Open
take your time so as not to get injured. Good luck, let us see you to the finals.
When Rafa went 2-5 down in the tie break, I turned off the tv and went to sleep, thinking, well I hope he wins the third set.
I wake up in the morning, check scores, and Rafa won the tie break! Surely that must be great for his confidence, to come from behind like that.
Keep surprising your fans Rafa.
Maybe…just maybe…Nadal is manning up finally (set 1 was quite good) and we can be grateful to this french former minister?
Still i see his forehand stats and i am not impressed.
Nadal: Speed 72 Mph Spin 3000
Verdasco: Speed 81 Mph Spin 3200.
I still think it’s a technical problem and he needs a change of coach.
He is nowhere close to Djokovic’s game now.
sorry from rafa side for the great DMTNA sir rafa can never impress him …..very very sorry
You have the wrong information. Rafa had the “better” numbers of the ones you presented. That was what I could see when I watched the match yesterday.
Baby is back!!!
Thrilling match! So glad Rafa defeated FV in the tiebreaker. FV was regaining his mojo all through the second set. I agree with Connie below that Rafa was able to hold his nerve especially during those crucial moments which make all the difference.
I noticed Rafa was never tentative during the match. He just carried on and prevailed.
Great fight, great results!
Best of luck in round 4!
Congratulations Rafa my boy. Keep practising serving a few Aces as you are now going to meet the “new kid on the block”, Alexander! However, few have your attitude of “never say die” which has taken you to glory in the past. Win or lose, I will always consider you the “Champ” who shakes an Arena with the shouting of Vamos Rafa when you appear on court! God bless you for the honest gentleman that you are. Vamos Rafa. Your Aussie Abuela. 😀😊😇
Rafa did not win today, Verdasco lost, and yes, there IS a big difference! Beating a man who made 8 double faults and 38 unenforced errors is no way to win a game. If Verdasco was even in half the form that he was in Oz, he would have taken this match in 2 bagel sets. I am a committed Rafa Fan, but I am not blind to his terribly declining form …….
I am so happy with the win, but I wish it had not been so close in the TB. Hopefully that tense TB will help build Rafa’s confidence. I love the sign that said “Keep Calm…” I was preparing myself for a third set, so I was delighted.
Yes Rafa, you did it 👏😃 Great match 🎾💪😊 VAMOS and all the very best at your next game 😘
Very well done and you kept your nerve too. All good for confidence build.
I didn’t see the match today, but I’ am so happy for Rafa! It feels good to read that Rafa won from his country fellow FV! Congrats Rafa! Still going strong and let’s keep it that way!
Nail biting at the end but our great Champion prevailed and came through victorious. Vamos Rafa!
Vamos Rafa. Good fight today.