Madrid: Rafael Nadal said he was doing his best to “keep dreaming” after beating Argentina’s Pedro Cachin 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6 to stay at the Madrid Open in a three-hour match. 3. Monday.
Kachin, a five-time champion in the last tournament before his retirement, surrendered world number 91 after asking for a match reminder.
“Some moments are good, some moments are not. I found a way to get through it. I still can’t predict it with some mistakes in the third set,” Nadal said about his third round victory.
“I’m happy now. Let’s see how I wake up tomorrow. Playing at home means everything to me, just doing my best to keep dreaming.”
Nadal’s reward is a last 16 match on Tuesday with 30th seed Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Mallorca a week earlier.
The 37-year-old has struggled with physical problems that have limited him to eight games this season.
Asked if he would be surprised if he could beat Lehecka on Tuesday, Nadal said: “Yes, more so after today’s match. I will face a player who plays at a high level and has a strong serve.”
Although Nadal beat his top-ranked opponent – No. 11 Alex de Minaur – this week, he believes the quality of Lehecka’s ball “another step up”.
Top seed Jannik Sinner beat world No. 72 Pavel Kotov 6-2, 7-5.
Kazakhstan’s Aleksandr Bublik defeated American Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to advance to the fourth round, where he will meet third seed Daniil Medvedev.
Ons Jabeur called on European tournament organizers to select men in the combined event and said “there should be more respect for women”.
Jabeur, the Madrid 2022 champion, appeared after ousting ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-4 to set up a last eight match with Madison Keys.
Jabeur said female players were not given equal access to the training ground and were under-represented on television.
“The way women and men are treated here is very different.”
“How can you inspire young women without acting?”
Top seed Iga Swiatek dropped her opening match before beating home favorite Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1, 6-0 in the next 12 to advance to a quarter-final meeting with Brazilian left-hander Beatriz Haddad Maia.
Keys won her all-American battle with a 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4 victory over third seed Coco Gauff to reach the last eight in Madrid for the first time.
The 29-year-old missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury that sidelined him for four months.
Gauff, who was broken seven times and had 13 double faults, lamented his serve.
“Not serving straight is the cost of the match,” said the US Open champion.
“My service is growing and there are a lot of small changes,” he said. “Whenever it opens, it’s definitely a weapon and I think that makes it more consistent.”
Also reaching the quarter-finals was 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, who beat Italian 12th seed Paoli 6-4 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to make her dream run to the fourth round in Madrid a year away. . In her WTA debut.
The Russian teenager fell to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka at the Caja Magica 12 months ago, but will be drawn with the Belarusian world number two, who beat American Danielle Collins 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Monday’s final.
Nadal keeps his clay dream alive as he battles past Cachin
