Eight-time champion Rafael Nadal passed a difficult test against rising star Dominic Thiem to reach the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters on Thursday.
Rafa won 7-5, 6-3 in two hours and three minutes – saving 15 of 17 break points.
Our champ was the first player who was broken in the third game, but he broke back to level the first set at 3-3 and then had to endure a 16-minute hold of serve to move 5-4 in front before snatching the opener 7-5. The first set took over one hour and 20 minutes to complete, but the second was simpler for Rafa as he came through 6-3.
Up next for our champ in the last 8 is a match against 4th-seed Stan Wawrinka.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – APRIL 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the round three match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal serves the ball to Austria’s Dominic Thiem during their match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Thursday, April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – APRIL 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during the round three match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
Spectators watch the action during the round three match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Dominic Thiem of Austria on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (April 13, 2016 – Source: Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)
Tennis – Monte Carlo Masters – Monaco, 14/04/2016. Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts during his match against Dominic Thiem of Austria. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
Spain’s Rafael Nadal plays a return to Britain’s Aljaz Bedene during their match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Wednesday, April 13, 2016. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal plays a return to Austria’s Dominic Thiem during their match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Thursday, April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
during the round three match on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – APRIL 14: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand during the round three match against Dominic Thiem of Austria on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
during the round three match on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
during the round three match on day five of Monte Carlo Rolex Masters at Monte-Carlo Sporting Club on April 14, 2016 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Austria’s Dominic Thiem in their match of the Monte Carlo Tennis Masters tournament in Monaco, Thursday, April 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)
Source: sportsmole.co.uk
this is the way to go onward and forever up wards rafa play well on friday vamos rafa glennis in the lsle of man,will be watching the game.
I agree with most of the above comments! Rafa played a good match, with the right attitude and mentality, he fought hard and won. Thiem is a youngster with the right attitude and a brilliant future! Tomorrow is an other game and another opponent, Stan, the man, who is more experienced than Thiem. I think that Rafa has to serve better (first) and try to surprise= trying to do something different on court (coming more at the net,) and try to win the points earlier! Today he puts a lot of energy and power in the game and I think he must be tired! Stan is also a power hitting tennis player (forehand) and a very smart player too! So, Rafa has to play his best tennis ever to win Monte Carlo. I know he can do it!!! Believe! Vamos campeon!!!
Congratulations Rafa ,another great win ,keep going hero ,lift that trophy high o ce again ,VAMOS Rafa ,your fans are with you ,👍👌👏💪🙏🐂🍀🌟🎾🏆
Congratulations handsome 😘👏 Good luck forward 😊🍀 VAMOS RAFA 🎾💪
NADAL IS BACK………………….
Rafa has something to build on for a pleasant change,, he didn’t fold, he overcame the mistakes he made an so he should make fewer of them, he’ll have to against Stan,,, Vamos Rafa,,,
I watched the match and I don’t understand how anyone can consider it was a good match for Rafa. yes He won and I’m happy for that but he’s not improved a bit. standing too far from the baseline, playing a crap defensive game with 80% of his shots landed at the middle of the court and weak serves has become a norm. Thiem was attacking Rafa’s BH and FH all the time. Rafa’s shot selection is awful. what happened to him? seems something has happened to his brain and his hands. Women players play shots longer than Rafa. that’s so weird.
this comment proves how the zika virus eats away at the human brain ……. O_O
Rafa_86 Love it but ask is there a brain there to start with?
=
LOL, Elizabeth, you literally made me laugh out loud! :))))))))))))
God bless u the great sir
You are totally right, but as usual, the low life Elizabeth Howard, that low class creature, goes ad hominem. Not a word about the real points made.
J Beer: Thank you for the words of support. Regarding those two idiots, I’m going to ignore them. That creep Rafa_86 is the former Abu parker. he keeps changing his username.
and when exactly will you start ignoring me, zika-brain laforge?????
As expected from Rafa! That he faced all those break points is worrying in itself… but that he saved so many, now that should be such a boost to his confidence.
Thiem is the real deal, this boy can play! However Rafa did what he had to do today, and well done to him!
I still think Rafa needs to improve his serve and access some free points. He loves to to things the hard way. Oh well… Old dog, new tricks.
Stanimal up next!
Happy for the win, discouraged by several aspects of Rafa’s game. Of course, dealing with 15 of 17 BP is good. It’s not good that you face 17 BP. It shows how vulnerable Rafa is. An in form Rafa, should relatively easily dismiss any player on clay that he faces before the QF of masters and majors. I hope he beats Wawrinka and wins this tournament. Given the fact that his slump of two years is so mental, a good win should change that maybe. We’ve seen too often 2 wins followed by a loss immediately (Rafa’s win-loss record of the last time comes down to that). Win this friggin’ masters already.
God bless u sir
you make some valid points, but you completely undermine Thiem, who has a very promising future and very strong skill-set, and therefore you quite undermine the effort required from Rafa to overcome this confident youngster …….
i am amazed how thiem putting so much energy in shots after shots in every game i mean every ball…….i believe he will have good future if he play this tennis game in all right spirits….
i watched 1 set and as tennis fan it was privilege to see a good tennis display …..thiem pulled out some extreme shots as winners ……………i observed in last match against rafa and this thiem is the player who plays actual tennis from this younger lot and who don’t believes in bashing of balls and fast serves….
it was a good match, rafa played good defensive game ……..but his shot selection specially on his service games was not up to the mark
what was best part that even when he was 0-40 in two games he played so well to finish that game and played good on important points and not showed nerves on big points……….
even he serve ace on important point when it was most needed ………
thiem was a goodd player to play in third round and rafa finished in straight sets and when it is hard to adjust from one surface to other ………
this win will definitely helpful for rafa in clay court season
just play with same attitude rafa and put more stress on ur shot selection
the best shot for me in the 1 set was on one important point rafa played a perfect lob which will be very helpul for rafa against novak
tomorrow is another match with again a good opponent , didn’t saw the stan simon match but scoreline suggest stan played well specially this scoreline is against simon the quality player
so practice well and keep calm
don’t forget the shoulder/ chest ball spinning bounce…………… ur forehands was good on important points so that was the great thing to take it to next match……..
good luck rafa vamos
and rafa again please don’t drop the ball in service box area ……it will be important tomorrow
I agree with all of the comments. A great, great win against a future champion. Rafa stayed so calm, at least on the outside, during the tough first set. This is the type of match he was losing last year. Tomorrow is another tough match, but we can all celebrate today!
Wow, what a match, brutal hitting from both, some great tennis from both too. Our champion showed great composure and focus to win. Very pleased at his confidence to hold his nerve when under pressure. Best match so far. This victory may well be a turning point for him. Hope he gets a good rest before to morrow. The negativity of the Sky Sports commentators was incredible. The only plus was, when Rafa went ahead, they went relatively silent. Small mercies!
Silence (so far) from some other people I could mention.
you mean like MIROMO the village idiot and zika-brain Laforge? We as Rafa fans should apologise to them, it seems no one told Rafa that he was supposed to drop out after the 2nd round O_O LOLZ
Agreed, Elizabeth!!
Way to go Rafa!!! Hope it’s you and Fed in the Final!!!
Well done Rafa I had a really great feeling he could do this and I hope he continues to play this way tomorrow against Stan
So all the best Rafa for your next match just keeping focuses on winning and not who your are playing we are all there for you and always will be
Great match from both players! Take rest and good luck for tomorrow. Stan will be a big opponent, but Rafa can do it. Vamos Rafa!!!
Well done Rafa. Though i could not watch live video of this match, I followed live scores and real happy the way you fought and showed your will in getting over the break pionts.Keep it up and I am confident that you will succeed in your next match.
Wow, sensational tennis, Rafa, against Dominic who is absolutely no push-over.
Even when Rafa was broken in each set I was super-confident Rafa would break right back.
I see why clay is considered the most difficult surface. You have to have a lot of patience and be a chess master on clay. I just love watching how Rafa sets up his shots. It’s just “poetry in motion”. Congratulations on making the qtr-finals. I look forward to your next match against Stan!
Agree Diane. Greetings from Ireland
Hi Elizabeth, thank you for your comment. Greetings from America.
I have followed Rafa’s career since he has been a teen-ager. I thoroughly
appreciate all his loyal fans and their support. We are a part of a special club.
Of course, Rafa is a special person and champion.
Let’s keep rooting for and supporting our favorite tennis player! Vamos!
YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Congratulations dear Rafa for a fantastic brilliant victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ; ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) ; ) : )
Have a great day & celebrate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your fighting always separates the Champions from the boys……. ci….ci….ci.
Enjoy your beautiful day & have lots & lots of fun playing Doubles!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 😉 YOU ARE TOP TOP TOP GENIUS TENNIS STAR & WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ): ): )
Good win today, I got to see the end of the first set and the rest of the match from then onwards.
One thing that strikes me is the spin the Thiem plays with but the pace at the same time. His spin is more extreme than Rafa’s, how is that possible? 🙂
The Wawrinka match tomorrow will decide the winner of the tournament. Big test tomorrow.