Nadal tested in 3
MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s body withstood its toughest test yet at the Madrid Open as he needed three sets and more than three hours to get past 91st-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.
Nadal didn’t show any signs of physical limitations as he won 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 to make it to the round of 16 at the clay-court tournament where he is the record five-time champion. He will next face 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka.
“I took more risks in the third set, but it’s hard after so many months without competing,” Nadal said. “I hadn’t played a match like this in a long time. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m going to wake up. But I’m already happy for having won three matches in a row.”
The 37-year-old Nadal is trying to get in shape for next month’s French Open. Since his latest injury layoff, he’s had two matches in Barcelona and was pessimistic about his physical condition after arriving in Madrid. But he’s won three more times in the capital.
Related articles
Sri Lanka expresses hope to join BRICS+
Sri Lanka hopes to join BRICS+ in the near future, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Russia Janitha Abey2024-04-30A brush with Van Gogh in picture
Vincent Van Gogh may have been minus an ear and borderline bonkers during his stay in Saint-Remy-de-2024-04-30A trainspotter's fantasy! Inside the breathtaking hotel that overlooks Tokyo's main bullet
They’re bullet trains, but not quite in bullet mode.Rather than shooting along at speeds of up to 202024-04-30- Make your house guests feel like royalty - with these insider tips from the former butler to King Ch2024-04-30
Syrian, Russian forces destroy 'terrorist' strongholds in N. Syria
Syrian and Russian forces on Saturday launched a series of joint attacks on "terrorist" si2024-04-30First look: MailOnline tries out British Airways' brand
British Airways was recently voted among the worst airlines for both long and short-haul travel in a2024-04-30
atest comment