Rafa Nadal Cruises Into Madrid Third Round, David Ferrer’s Career Comes To An End

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action during his second round match against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament, in Madrid, Spain, 08 May 2019. EPA-EFE/JUANJO MARTIN

 

 

By Ricky “@ DIMONATOR” Dimon

 

Bidding for sixth Mutua Madrid Open title, Rafael Nadal beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 during second-round action on Wednesday afternoon. Nadal served at 71 percent and held eight of nine service games to advance in one hour and 37 minutes.

 

Next up for the second-ranked Spaniard is 21-year-old American Frances Tiafoe, who followed up a win over Nikoloz Basilashvili by getting the best of another three-setter against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

 

“It’s a day to be very satisfied; very happy,” Nadal assured. “I managed to win. I managed to win in two sets [against] an opponent who was not easy and the day was not the best. It was windy and cold. Of course there [were] positive things. I think that my backhand has been [good], and other things. There are many things to improve, of course.

 

“The first seven games I didn’t have a lot of rhythm. Both [he] and I, we were struggling when returning the balls. We had a lot of first serves and returning was very difficult…. I managed to do a break, and from there onwards it’s a turning point. I think I started to return a little bit better from there on. And I did things better than him.”

 

Rarely does anyone steal the spotlight from Nadal in Madrid, but it belonged to fellow Spaniard David Ferrer on Wednesday. Ferrer’s career came to an end with a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Alexander Zverev.

 

The 37-year-old, who battled to an opening three-set defeat of countryman Roberto Bautista Agut on Tuesday, led 4-1 in the first set but dropped 11 of the next 12 games.

 

Draw
Novak Djokovic…..d. Fritz
Jeremy Chardy…..d. Ramos-Vinolas…..d. Schwartzman

Marin Cilic…..d. Struff
Laslo Djere…..d. Lajovic…..d. Del Potro

Roger Federer…..d. Gasquet
Gael Monfils…..d. Seppi…..d. Fucsovicus

Fabio Fognini…..d. Edmund…..d. Millman
Dominic Thiem…..d. Opelka

Stefanos Tsitsipas…..d. Mannarino
Fernando Verdasco…..d. Albot…..d. Khachanov
Hubert Hurkacz……d. de Minaur…..d. Pouille
Alexander Zverev…..d. Ferrer

Kei Nishikori…..d. Dellien
Stan Wawrinka…..d. Herbert…..d. Pella

Frances Tiafoe…..d. Basilashvili…..d. Kohlschreiber
Rafael Nadal…..d. Auger-Aliassime

 

Seeds
1. Novak Djokovic: vs. Chardy in R3
2. Rafael Nadal: vs. Tiafoe in R3
3. Alexander Zverev: vs. Hurkacz in R3
4. Roger Federer: vs. Monfils in R3
5. Dominic Thiem: vs. Fognini in R36. Kei Nishikori: vs. Wawrinka in R3
7. Juan Martin Del Potro: l.to Djere in R2
8. Stefanos Tsitsipas: vs. Verdasco in R3
9. Marin Cilic: vs. Djere in R3
10. Fabio Fognini: vs. Thiem in R3
11. Karen Khachanov: l. to Verdasco in R2
12. Daniil Medvedev: l. to Pella in R1
13. Borna Coric: l. to Pouille in R1
14. Nikoloz Basilashvili: l. to Tiafoe in R1
15. Gael Monfils: vs. Federer in R3
16. Marco Cecchinato: l. to Schwartzman in R1

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

 

Spanish David Ferrer (R), accompanied by tournament’s Director Feliciano Lopez (L), receives a tribute after his Mutua Madrid Open’s round of 32 game against German Alexander Zverev played at Caja Magica tennis complex, in Madrid, Spain, 08 May 2019This has been the last match of Ferrer as a professional tennis player. EPA-EFE/JUANJO MARTIN