World No. 2 Rafael Nadal defeated training partner Jannik SInner 7-5, 6-4 in the second round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia on Wednesday.
Local hope Sinner pushed Rafa by claiming early breaks in both sets but our champ hit back to win in two hours and 10 minutes.
Rafa will face 13th seed Denis Shapovalov in round three after the Canadian’s 7-6 6-3 victory over Italian wildcard Stefano Travaglia.
After the match, Rafa said:
“I hit some very good forehands, cross-courts too to avoid his great backhand cross, and then he has a great change down the line, no? So I think I did that well. Is not a surprise for me. No, I know how good he is and the shots he has. He has great shots when he’s running. He has always great comebacks from tough positions, no? So, yeah, I know that. I was on the court with big respect for him and very focused every single moment. That’s why I am here with a victory.”
The tie finished at 9.40pm local time in Rome and Rafa will return to play his next match at 1pm on Thursday.
Well done rafa onward and upwards vamos rafa xx
Phew! Escape to victory! That wasn’t good for my heart. Not a pretty match, but so glad Rafa lives to fight another day!
🤣🤣😂…. another gut-wrenching heart-pumping Rafa win! Talk about the miles on Rafa’s body…he has put plenty of miles on my heart! I just wait until Rafa starts winning now before I really sit down and watch the match.It’s much easier on my nerves! Shapo is my favorite next-gen. He he’s so good plus he has charisma…which Sinner is lacking. Notice the difference in handshakes! Sinner has no respect … He just played one of the greatest tennis players of all time and he brushed him off like that! He isn’t going to have much of a fan base with an attitude like that! That’s just my opinion! Happy Day for all of us! 💜💜Rafa!
Completely agree, that was exactly my thinking when I saw the handshake. Horrible
Behavior!
Congrats Rafa! Incredible match. And Rafa wins a tie break!
David you stole my line LOL
And Rafa wins the tiebreaker… HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY
Phewwwww
Congratulations Rafa finally
Don’t think rafa has ever faced that much match points in a single clay season
Relieved 😅😅😅
Ufffff
OMG THANK YOU RAFA. Now I can breath easy. YOU DID IT!!!