Madrid 2024 R64: Nadal vs De Minaur

[tennisjedi]

Had to work for it but Nadal wins the 1st set.
11-0 in tiebreaks at Madrid.

 

[The Blond Blur]

 

[Kralingen]

VINTAGE Nadal. What a rollercoaster of a set.

Loving it. This is cinema

 

[MeatTornado]

Halfway there!

Although that breaker didn't exactly inspire confidence that he has another good set left in the tank.

 

[ojo rojo]

phew

 

[Carax]

Look at that fire. Come on Rafa!!

 

[MichaelNadal]

Nadal taking us on a RIDE. Phew

 

[BeatlesFan]

Rafa takes the opening set!

 

[ChaelAZ]

Tight first set, and nothing tells you more than ADM having won 41 points and Nadal only 39, but the right points.

 

[NYTennisfan]

Nadal is epic asf. Even broke out the lawn mower celebration

 

[Nadal15thslam]

Vamooos

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Rafa takes the first set! Amazing shot from Rafa on the BH side

 

[MichaelNadal]

phew

 

[Vincent-C]

Rafa takes the opening set!

A pity.

 

[NaDjoFed]

Can Rafa keep this level for two, or potentially three sets?

 

[nolefam_2024]

A good set of tennis.

 

[Nadal15thslam]

This crowd and Rafa made my day, even if he loses to win a set against such a high ranked opponent is great.

 

[Hitman]

Now lets get this done in straights Rafa.

 

[Zetty]

By the skin of his teeth. De Minaur is a warrior though. Dunno if Nadal has the requisite gas in the tank.

 

[Pheasant]

Whew! Rafa did it!! I feel much better about the match now. It's still not over. We will see if Nadal's lack of match play affects his endurance. We need Rafa to win the 2nd set.

 

[Rattie]

Too stressed to be in here and watch this match

 

[nolefam_2024]

80 mins for first set.

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Finally!!! Nadal just had to do it the hard way, didn't he?

Bout gave me a heart attack in the process!

 

[MichaelNadal]

A good set of tennis.

Reminds me what it feels like to be entertained to this degree

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

I doubt can keep this up for another set. Unless manure just tanks.

 

[NoleFam]

Nadal is definitely playing much better than Barcelona. That was well done to get that set. Does anybody really believe he's not playing RG because I don't.

 

[Pablo1989]

There will never be an athlete that excites me more than this guy.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Reminds me what it feels like to be entertained to this degree

Many players bring this level of entertainment for us.

 

[ChaelAZ]

Gotta watch that Sinner/Senego match. Sinner looks like he was in fine form.

Nadal will need to jump out quick to give himself cushion and ADM keeps hanging. I didn't think Nads would take the first, but good to see him tough through.

 

[BeatlesFan]

Too stressed to be in here and watch this match

Come on, Rattie. Rafa's going to win this match!

 

[Sudacafan]

Many players bring this level of entertainment for us.

Not many.

 

[Hitman]

Bout gave me a heart attack in the process!

Haha!

Hopefully he keeps it going.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Not many.

Don't need many. Even 1 is enough to counter. Tennis was not missing a lot.

 

[MichaelNadal]

There will never be an athlete that excites me more than this guy.

It’s literally ridiculous

Many players bring this level of entertainment for us.

Lol!

 

[Mainad]

In this duel between El Toro v El Diablo, El Toro edges the 1st set.

 

[Rattie]

Come on, Rattie. Rafa's going to win this match!

Oh please be right. It would mean so much

 

[Sudacafan]

Don't need many. Even 1 is enough to counter. Tennis was not missing a lot.

Tennis was missing Nadal, yes.

 

[Nadal15thslam]

There will never be an athlete that excites me more than this guy.

Prime Ronaldo at Madrid is close for me but Rafa still on top.

 

[ChaelAZ]

DryDal ready to go

 

[nolefam_2024]

Tennis was missing Nadal, yes.

Agreed

 

[Rafa.the.Magnificent]

Okay, to me Rafa’s serve looks quite a bit better. I’m confused as to why Rafa made statements doubting his fitness for Madrid. What I see is improvement in every way.

 

[ChaelAZ]

ADM focused still...business as usual. Keep grinding.

 

[NeutralFan]

If Nadal plays like this against Sinner he will get crushed

 

[NoleFam]

I still don't understand why they made this a 2 week tournament though and dragging it out. It's Saturday and we're still in the 2nd round.

 

[Hitman]

Nadal can really inject some pace into his shot when he gets to plant his feet into the ground. Beautiful ball striking,

 

[Djokovic_is_the_best#1]

Bout gave me a heart attack in the process!

It’s the Rafa way but it’s epic. No doubt.

 

[ChaelAZ]

And ADM taking the first few point.

 

[Hitman]

I still don't understand why they made this a 2 week tournament though and dragging it out. It's Saturday and we're still in the 2nd round.

We will get an encore in Rome.

Nadal with BP.

 

[junior74]

The comb-over toilet break!

 

[MeatTornado]

If Nadal plays like this against Sinner he will get crushed

Fortunately for him, Sinner isn't here to win matches.