In a thrilling encounter at the Madrid Open on Saturday, Rafael Nadal, the legendary 22-time Grand Slam champion, avenged his recent defeat to Alex de Minaur in Barcelona with a hard-fought 7-6 (6), 6-3 victory over the talented Australian. The match, which marked Nadal’s likely final appearance at his home tournament, showcased the Spaniard’s incredible determination and resilience, despite his admission that he still needs time to return to his competitive peak.

The match took place in front of a packed crowd at the Manolo Santana Stadium, with notable attendees including King Felipe VI of Spain, French soccer icon Zinedine Zidane, and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior. The atmosphere was electric as fans eagerly anticipated what could be one of Nadal’s last performances on home soil.

Nadal, who has been battling numerous physical issues, dug deep to dismiss the world No. 11 in a match that lasted over two hours. The 37-year-old’s performance was a testament to his unwavering spirit and his ability to rise to the occasion, even when not at his physical best.

Nadal’s Measured Optimism and Uncertainty Surrounding the French Open

Despite his impressive victory, Nadal remained cautious about his current form, immediately dismissing the idea that he was back to his vintage level of play. “No, not yet. It needs time,” he said on court, emphasizing the importance of the incredible atmosphere and his step-by-step approach to recovery.

The five-time Madrid champion revealed that he will not make a decision on his participation in the upcoming French Open until after the Rome tournament, which is set to begin next week. Nadal, who holds an astounding record of 14 French Open titles, explained that his decision will be based on his ability to compete at the highest level and maintain his signature fighting spirit on the court.

“It’s not a thing about losing or winning. It’s about going on court there with the feeling that I can fight and I can be competitive,” Nadal stated, underlining the importance of his mental and physical readiness. “So if I am not able to go on court and dream, for me it doesn’t make sense to go. I prefer to stay with all the amazing memories that I have.”

Upsets and Victories in the Men’s Draw

The Madrid Open saw its fair share of surprises and impressive performances in the men’s draw. In a shocking upset, world No. 7 Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a second-round exit at the hands of Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro. Tsitsipas, who had been in excellent form on clay this season with only one defeat in 11 matches, lost 6-4, 6-4 to the world No. 118 in just over 90 minutes.

Monteiro, who had already won three matches this week through qualifying and the main draw, looked more comfortable on court than his higher-ranked opponent. The left-handed Brazilian took advantage of his match sharpness and secured one of the biggest wins of his career, reaching the third round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time.

“For sure this is one of the biggest wins of my career,” Monteiro said after the match, underscoring the significance of his achievement.

In contrast, top seed Jannik Sinner had a much smoother path to the third round. The Italian star extended his unbeaten record against fellow countrymen to an impressive 13-0 by defeating his Davis Cup teammate and good friend Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3 in a mere 69 minutes. Sinner, who is making his third appearance in Madrid, will face Pavel Kotov for a place in the last 16.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced to the third round, but not without a fight. The Russian had to recover from a set down to squeeze past tricky Italian Matteo Arnaldi 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, setting up an intriguing encounter with American Sebastian Korda.

Women’s Draw: Swiatek and Jabeur Advance, Gauff Survives Scare

In the women’s draw, last year’s finalist Iga Swiatek demonstrated her dominance on clay once again, easing past Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 to book a fourth-round meeting with home favorite Sara Sorribes Tormo. The world No. 1 faced just two break points and dropped serve once during the one-hour 17-minute victory, showcasing her ability to adapt to the challenging weather conditions.

“For sure the weather is different than last year but still I know how to play in these kind of conditions. I feel really comfortable,” said Swiatek, who is seeking her third WTA 1000 crown of the season this week.

Defending champion Ons Jabeur had to dig deep to overcome multiple deficits against Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, eventually prevailing 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to move into the last 16. Jabeur, who claimed the title in Madrid last year, showcased her mental toughness and versatility on clay as she battled back from 0-3 in the first set and 0-2 and 2-4 in the deciding set.

U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff also had to weather a storm in her third-round match against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska. Gauff nearly squandered a 5-0 lead in the first set before regaining her composure to complete a 6-4, 6-1 victory, demonstrating her growing maturity and ability to handle pressure on the big stage.

As the Madrid Open enters its latter stages, fans are eagerly anticipating the next chapter in Rafael Nadal’s farewell tour and the exciting matchups that await in both the men’s and women’s draws. With top players like Swiatek, Jabeur, Sinner, and Medvedev still in contention, the tournament promises to deliver more thrilling moments and unforgettable performances in the days to come.

The Information is taken from Japan Times and Msn.