Rafael Nadal rallied for a 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 victory Friday night over Pablo Carreno Busta to reach the semifinals of the Paris Masters.
Our champ saved four of five break points in the match and won his 10th match in a row (all in Paris).
“I think in the third I started to return better,” said the 34-year-old.
“The problem was he was playing well and I was not able to return well, so he was winning his serves very comfortably so when that happens you’re able to play more aggressive.”
It is his first hard-court tournament since winning in Acapulco in February before the coronavirus-enforced suspension of professional tennis.
“You need to adapt to everything,” added Nadal, who has only reached the final at Bercy once in his seven previous appearances.
“(I) have to adapt to the hard surface. It’s time to be happy because the semi-finals is very good performance after a long period without playing on indoor hard (courts). Tomorrow will be a very tough opponent.”
He will seek his second final at the 1,000 Masters in Paris against the winner of the duel between the German Alexander Zverev and the Swiss Stan Wawrinka.
Zverev played well. Regardless of surface or anything else. Rafa played badly.
Hope Rafa finds his mojo for London.
Cmon Rafa!
VAMOS
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞😘😘😘😘😘
Rafa will be back and I’ll be waiting.
RAFA*MAZING ROCKS
Zverev was just too good and too powerful on this surface. He did what Feli Lopez and Pablo CB just couldn’t quite do.
Onwards and upwards to London, Rafa.
This courts suits players with a big serve and Rafa isn’t consistent enough at doing that. He’s struggled through every match this week and was unlikely to win against a 6’6” top 10 player, so I’m neither surprised nor disappointed. Rafa did better when he moved further back to return, maybe he should have tried that sooner. Also Mo Lahyani is off my list of good guys for a bit. Anyway, I’ll always take a loss over a withdrawal through injury.
I wish it had gone better today for Rafa but it is a great day for the U.S.A.
Congratulations to American Rafa fans on the election of your new President.
Praying for a peaceful transition.
Me too, David. However, it’s only one match for Rafa, but it’s history making for U.S.A.
I agree with jas_uk, so true, “I’ll always take a loss over a withdrawal through injury.”
Thank you Pauline❤️
Rafa came to play, Zverev came to win, with that ridiculous serving!
The final point says everything about Rafa’s game today. At least Rafa broke the Zverev serve once and made a go of it until he got shut down.
I would never doubt Rafa’s will to win. He just got outplayed and overpowered. Simple as that.
Oh don’t take it the wrong way Lorna, I’m definitely not questioning Rafa’s will to win:)
That serving made the difference is all. I was content enough when Rafa broke the serve.
On to London for the last time (for London, not Rafa;)
Rafa loses!!!!!! OMG