Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal advanced to the quarter-finals of the Italian Open on Friday with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Serb Dusan Lajovic. The Spaniard, who is defending his title in Rome, was comfortable throughout, only dropping four games to his Serbian opponent.
“First set it was 6-1 but super tough beginning of the match,” Rafa reflected. “I know Dusan can produce great shots; he’s a player with a lot of spin and a lot of power. I needed consistency and to make him play from uncomfortable positions…. To start the tournament with these victories is great news.”
The second seed will next face Diego Schwartzman on Saturday in another late match scheduled for 8.30 PM CET. The Argentine came back from one set down to beat dangerous Pole Hubert Hurkacz 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 after two hours and nine minutes.
Rafa is leading 9-0 in the head-to-head ratio against Schwartzman, with seven of those victories coming in straight sets.
Our champ on playing Diego:
“Always has been very tough against him. I know I will have to play well if I’m going to have a chance.”
WATCH OUT FOR CASPER RUUD.
The 21-year-old just beat Beretinni in a 3rd-set tiebreaker. He is being called a clay-court specialist. Who will be his next victim?
Casper trains at Rafa’s academy, so Rafa knows all about him and has probably taught him a few things. He looked so delighted at winning the match against Berrettini, and it makes him the first Norwegian man to make the semi-finals of a Masters 1000. I don’t think he’ll beat Djokovic there.
Yes, Casper loves the Academy and had the highest of praise for Rafa, the staff and the Academy. He said it has everything a tennis player could wish for.
He is the highest ranking Norwegian ever and has topped his dad’s ranking.
I wouldn’t discount him against Djokovic. I hope Rafa texts him some helpful hints on how to beat ND.
RAFA ROCKS
I agree Margo… I wouldn’t discount Casper’s play against Djokovic .. Hopefully he’ll give Djokovic a run and show him the door which indeed would make my day! Stranger things have happened!
Finally, I can see new photos of Rafa. Thank you for this. I have been waiting for weeks to see them. It seems that Rafa is going well. Hope that everything will be ok for tomorrow. I have heard that he is coming to Roland Garros. Can’t wait.
Good job Rafa! Ever closer. Deigo will certainly be a challenge, but you’lll get it done in straight sets. Vamos champ!
Rafa well don I’m so happy you are doing so well vamossssssssss champ this is your year love your fans for ever 😘❤️🎂🎾👍😘❤️🎾👍😘❤️a
Will the statue of Rafa be unveiled this FO? I can’t find anything in English. Will try the French news outlets.
Margo, I get very annoyed when this topic comes up, because the French can’t accept the greatness of any player who isn’t French. Have you heard that they will definitely be unveiling a statue of Rafa at the FO this year? I can’t see any mention of it in any press, even though they have been talking about it for years. It’s both disgraceful and disrespectful that after 12 FO wins they still haven’t erected a statue in Rafa’s honour.
We all know that if Rafa was French, he’d have a statue erected and a stadium named after him long ago! He has given so much to the tournament and the least they should do is name a stadium after him. We should not forget Bjorn Borg, a six time winner and Chris Evert, a seven time winner. How have they been honoured? Surely they should be immortalized too?
Hi Lorna, I can understand your frustration but there may be a few complications.
The statue of Rafa was scheduled for after the new roof was installed. I don’t know if the work has been completed and the roof tested. The pandemic may have delayed this.
There is now talk of a statue for Roland Garros who was an aviator and played golf. Go figure. I very much doubt that a Rafa statue would take precedence over a Garros statue. This could be a delay tactic. Roland Garros’s name is the name of the stadium complex and the tournament is a/k/a Roland Garros.
Do the French really need a statue of him too?
The few French language articles I did find give all credit to Welovetennis.fr for announcing the intention of a Rafa statue. In addition, Rafa wanted a statue of him holding the trophy but after discussions it was decided the statue would be of Rafa hitting a ball while in full motion.
There may have also been some pushback because Rafa is alive and kicking and still an active player.
I don’t know what to make of it.
Is Welovetennis.fr a news organization, a blog, a magazine, something like the ATP Tour News? I haven’t got a clue.
Wish I could tell you more.
Thanks for your take on the statue saga, Margo.
Your welcome Lorna. Saga is right. I am still as confused as I was when I posted @ 1:37am above.
Well don Rafa good luck tomorrow I’m so happy to see you on the court again vamosssssss champ 🎾😘👍😍🎾😘👍😍🎾😘👍😍😍🎾😘👍
Bieeeeeennnnnn!!!!!! Campeón, enhorabuena
You know what and how!!!! Your concentration is key and beautiful to watch. Stay the course!!
Vamosssssssss!!!
Go Rafa.
Good Luck Rafa to end The Roma Open winning once again, from The Canaries i´d always admire you. C. J.
Well done Rafa. All the best for tomorrow❤️
Congrats, Rafael Nadal. Looking fit and focussed. No doubt Diego will be challenging. Cannot help but be concerned about the FO and those rising COVID numbers. Stay safe🤛💪👍👏🍀❤️
I can’t believe they’ll cancel it at this late date, but I’m surprised that they’re letting 5,000 people in. I know the risks are much lower outdoors, but it might be better to err on the side of caution, especially after the Adria Tour fiasco and then the Paire Eleven business.
A bit of a wobble in the second set, but nothing serious. And, hooray, not before 7:30pm tomorrow, so it doesn’t clash with the football!
Well played Rafa! His first serve percentage was better today which is good news. Also happy to see that Diego won, after losing the first set. Tomorrow’s match is at 8.30pm local time.
¡Vamos Rafa!
Rafa vs Diego tomorrow, match time is not before 8:30pm local time, not before 11:30am pacific time. Good luck to Rafa🍀❤️ Looking forward to another good match!
Well done Rafa , one long testing game but you won and moved on rapidly to win the first set 6/1, second set a little longer but great performance overall .
You are looking fir and sharp . Good luck v Diego . It’s wonderful to see you back . All support from afar but we are with in spirit 🌟🇪🇸☘️
Congratulations Rafa great to see you playing so well. Wishing you the best of luck against Diego tomorrow. Vamos x
Come on Rafa you can win the next match!!
So happy to see you on TV,on the court.
Can’t wait for French Open and as a native Parisian I enjoy that more than the others.
In my eyes there’s no one like you period.
Good going Rafa and get ready for Diego who is a tough cookie. Best of luck tomorrow.
RAFA ROCKS
Margo, we both like Diego, but definitely not when he plays Rafa 😉
Vika vs Garbine tomorrow, this one is tough for me 🤔
I just hope Diego doesn’t tire out Rafa for his semifinal.
On another note, Diego said they don’t call him Diego any more, it’s “Dominic’s friend” when reporters want to know his thoughts on Dominic’s run at the USOPEN. He said it jokingly but the sentiment was not lost, on me anyway. I don’t think he is accorded the respect he deserves. My observation only.
Now to Vika. I think it’s going to be between her and Halep in the final. Can she beat those two?
I hope so too. Rafa needs to save energy for Grigor or Denis.
Diego is funny and lovable 😅
I like both Vika and Garbine, ok maybe 51% Vika, and 49% Garbine for tomorrow’s match lol
I am not sure if she can because she might be a bit tired playing three straight tournaments? Let’s see……
LOL Mimi, I think I’m getting a girlie crush on Diego. He has a boyish innocence about him.
Rafa is my one and only tennis crush LOL. I will root for him until he hangs up his racket. I can still remember so vividly the first time I saw him hitting every ball, running from side to side on clay. I couldn’t believe my eyes and was as mesmerized then as I am today by his tennis prowess.
RAFA*MAZING ROCKS
Margo, I don’t blame you about Diego 😂🤣
I don’t know what I would do when Rafa decides it is time to move on to the next chapter of his life🤔 I will miss him dearly for sure. He is the reason why I have started to watch tennis since 2008. Roger and Rafa were in the middle of one of the greatest finals in history when I turned on my TV that day. My family and friends often say I am a “crazy” Rafa fan. 😜 I think I will still watch tennis, but definitely will not get up in the middle of the night, and will not travel around to watch in person that is for sure.
I hope Rafa stay healthy and fit and play many more years!🙏
Same here Mimi. I don’t think about him stopping and he doesn’t seem to be slowing down as much as Roger so I think he is ours for a while.
As long as he’s healthy I think he will carry on unless of course the youngsters start beating him or if his ranking starts to dip. He has said he will continue as long as he is happy competing.
Look how prepared he is for Rome. I knew he could do it. He’s not fooling around and is well aware that others are looking to replace him.
He’s been practicing, taking care of himself and still has a quality private life. When his baby does arrive he can choose tournaments that won’t keep him far from home or for extended periods, if he decides to continue playing.
As a fan, all I can say is that he’s given me years of joy and heartache, more joy than the latter.
Well said Margo! Let’s hope Rafa will bring more joy than heartache in years to come👌🙏
Well congrats to Garbine. She fooled me. I hope Vika is ready to push on to the FO.
Now I hope Garbine and Rafa go all the way, and it will be another La Decima for Rafa!
Good luck to both 🍀 Vamos 💪
A well deserved short break for Vika, looking forward to see her at the FO ❤️