Rafael Nadal booked a spot in the quarters in Indian Wells with a 6-7(8), 6-0, 7-5 victory over Alexander Zverev.
Rafa was on the brink of defeat as Zverev served at 5-4, 40/30 in the decider. But the teenager netted a forehand volley on match point and from there, Rafa took control. Our champ won 15 of the final 16 points to claim the dramatic victory.
Rafa improved to 11-4 on the season, and 47-8 lifetime at Indian Wells with the win.
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, serves to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts while playing Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, reacts while playing Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Rafael Nadal, of Spain, returns to Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a forehand volley during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a forehand during his match against Alexander Zverev of Germany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain shakes hands with Alexander Zverev of Gremany after his victory at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory over Alexander Zverev of Gremany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory over Alexander Zverev of Gremany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory over Alexander Zverev of Gremany at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in three sets during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in three sets during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in three sets during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
INDIAN WELLS, CA – MARCH 16: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Alexander Zverev of Germany in three sets during day ten of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 16, 2016 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Source: BNP Paribas Open
Well done Rafa, you are fighting well,
with great passion and determination,
Love,
Alaine XXSydney Australia
Vamos Rafa eres un verdadero champion guarda la tranquilidad en tu juego
Congrats on a great win-keep fighting. What a great feeling to get that W! Hundreds of fans watched Rafael practice, and were rewarded with 3 wins.
The fire and passion burn brightly-respect to a true tennis warrior and ambassador👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👍💪👑
no doubt that the Loony Prophet prayed very, very hard for Rafa to win this, and we all owe it to the Loony Prophet that we can celebrate Rafa’s win today O_O LMAO
remeber rafa your shot selection should be such that at times it should confuse ur opponent but also it should make ur opponent run from one direction to other also u need to position urself such that u will able to bisect the court after every shot………
vamos rafa
alex…able to serve his 2nd serve at a pretty much same pace as that of first, so when it come good as it was happening for some times against rafa nothing more a opponent cant do in a match
though i have not seen alex play much but he lacks a flashing weapon in his armory like a sloid forehand or a backhand .. he is a pretty much a player of andy murray caliber
remember rafa u were able to top the group in WTF recently