World No. 5 Rafael Nadal booked a place in the third round of the Italian Open with a straight-sets win over Philipp Kohlschreiber this evening.
It took Rafa one hour and 23 minutes to seal a 6-3, 6-3 triumph on the clay court in Rome. He won 71 per cent of his service points (35/49) and broke the German four times to sail in his opener.
After the match, Rafa said:
The forehand down the line was working well for me today in a way it wasn’t in Madrid.
The seven-time Italian Open champion will face Nick Kyrgios for a place in the quarter-finals. The Australian beat big-serving Milos Raonic 7-6 (5), 6-3 on the statue-lined Pietrangeli court earlier today.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: (Editors Note: This image has been turned black and white) Rafa Nadal of Spain enters teh court ahead of his match against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
+++ on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: (Editors note: This image has had a digital filter applied to it) Rafa Nadal of Spain serves during his match against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
+++ on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
+++ on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola al alemán Phillipp Kohlschreiber durante el partido de segunda ronda del Masters 1.000 de Roma disputado en el Foro Itálico de Roma, Italia, hoy, 11 de mayo de 2016. EFE/Ettore Ferrari
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola al alemán Phillipp Kohlschreiber durante el partido de segunda ronda del Masters 1.000 de Roma disputado en el Foro Itálico de Roma, Italia, hoy, 11 de mayo de 2016. EFE/Ettore Ferrari
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la bola al alemán Phillipp Kohlschreiber durante el partido de segunda ronda del Masters 1.000 de Roma disputado en el Foro Itálico de Roma, Italia, hoy, 11 de mayo de 2016. EFE/Ettore Ferrari
during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
+++ on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: (Editors Note: This image has been turned black and white) Rafa Nadal of Spain looks on during his match against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
Tennis – Italy Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany – Rome, Italy – 11/5/16 Nadal serves. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
Tennis – Italy Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany – Rome, Italy – 11/5/16 Nadal returns the ball. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
Tennis – Italy Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany – Rome, Italy – 11/5/16 Nadal returns the ball. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
Tennis – Italy Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany – Rome, Italy – 11/5/16 Nadal returns the ball. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafa Nadal of Spain in action action against Philipp Kohlscreiber of Germany during day four of the The Internazionali BNL d’Italia 2016 on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
ROME, ITALY – MAY 11: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates a point in his match against Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
+++ on Day Four of The Internazionali BNL d’Italia on May 11, 2016 in Rome, Italy.
Good Luck, Rafa! I know that you will win tomorrow.
Rafa got this. Rafa in 2. He’s gonna show that idiot how to play on clay and behave like a decent human being.
Absolutely agree with you 100%· Pray and hope that Rafa can thrash that idiot fr Downunder to bits.
Rafa you can do it we your loyal and ardent fans will be backing and sopporting you all the way. Go go go Rafa. Vamos Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Vamos Rafa!!!
Yeaaah sweetheart, congrats on your win today 👏😊 Now go get the victory again tomorrow. Fingers crossed. – You can do it champ. All the best of luck 🍀👑👍😘
Love the pics. – You gorgeous, handsome man 😍🌞
VAMOS RAFA 🎾💪😃❤️
All the best to you Rafa,good luck.
I was at Wimbledon that day surrounded by Aussies. It was awful! I remember Rafa walking off slumped and dejected.
Nadal will take Kyrgios in three sets tomorrow! He needs to be very aggressive and focused tomorrow! Kyrgios is a guy who is very hyper on the court and act a little bit strange, can take your attention away! Nadal also stays too far behind the baseline, especially the 2 serve. Come on Rafa, you can do better! Good luck tomorrow! Vamosssssss!
He will need all the luck in the world tomorrow, Glenda.
As a true Prophet, I see Nick Kyrgios winning in 2 sets 6-4, 6-4.
But we’ll see………………Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!!!
As a LOONY prophet aka shallow thinker …………………….
god bless u the great sir
Great result for Rafa. Could have done with not getting broken in the second set, but oh well, can’t have everything!
Against Nick tomorrow, dear Rafa, just hold serve and wait for him to make some errors. Would that it were so easy… good luck!
I agree. Kyrgios beat Rafa at Wimbledon 2014, which was about the time Rafa had to stop playing due to his injuries, etc. So this is a whole different game tomorrow.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm………….
Rafa looked sharp today, but a big task tomorrow. Rafa’s draw is terrible, but he has to beat the best to be the best. As was stated, Kyrgios has a big serve, but he makes a lot of mistakes. Rafa served great today. I hope he does the same tomorrow, but rain is expected. Everything seems stacked against Rafa in Rome.
Good analysis
But I would imagine the rain will not suit Nick’s game either? Like you rightly stated- he has to beat the best to be the best.
Personally, I love the draw. It will give us some indication as to the level Nadal will be in 2 weeks time for the FO. It is increasingly looking likely that he might be seeded 5th, he will face similar challenges at the FO- probably Novak in the quarters or semis.
He is getting there but he needs to work on his serving- very crucial. He cannot afford to have those weaknesses against the top players and certainly NOT against Nick tomorrow.
Rain or no rain, I had long ago foreseen an early exit for Rafa in Rome.
Celestial forces predict a Nick Kyrgios triumph – 6-4, 6-4
But we’ll see…………….Vamoss Rafa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Prophet speaks rafa wins 6-3 6-2 you are worst prophet hate you too how dare you support terrorist kyrgios
Congrats RAFA, Kyrgios is a tough customer, better face him now and see what he’s got. Once our guy remains calm he can get through him.
Unto the next one RAFA. According to Luis Litt from SUITS, have him for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ha ha ha ha ha.
RAFA fan forever.
I’ll watch the Kohli match online.
Oh God not Kyrgios!
Why are you scared? Lol
If Nadal wants to win the FO, he has to beat Kyrgios. Losing in the third round would be demoralising
Nick is no where as good as Nadal and definitely not on clay.
I do appreciate your concerns though, Nadal sometimes has an emotional baggage with regards to players that have beaten him in the past but that was on grass.
Rafa has to ensure that he perfects his serving and he is good to go. Nick will serve 20 aces but he is prone to a lot of UEs. He might also try to wind him up but he has to stay focused.
I see a straight sets victory for Nadal tomorrow
Vamos Rafa!!
Confident words! I’ll take comfort from them and yes I hope he takes his revenge in style!
Tou wish Chris! You wish!!!!!
I’d advise all TRUE Rafa fans here to immediately begin a 12-hr fasting and prayer to reverse the prediction of the Celestial forces that N.K will win in a tight 2 setter: 6-4, 6-4
Chris, it appears you’re from Nigeria, a praying Nation, so please lead the prayers and fasting for us, will you???????? That’s the only way out tomorrow for Nadal!
I have forewarned everybody now!!!
May those who have ears listen!
FRUITCAKE, LOONY prophet ……. O_O