The Spanish Rafael Nadal prevailed in the left-handed duel against the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the round of 16 of the Australian Open 7-6(12), 6-2 and 6-2, after winning an exciting first set that lasted an hour and 21 minutes.
“The first set was very exciting and I was lucky at the end. He has had many opportunities too », commented the Spaniard, as reported by Efe, after certifying his pass to the quarterfinals in a match that lasted two hours and 40 minutes.
His next rival will be known after the conclusion of the duel between the German Alexander Zverev (3) and the Canadian Denis Shapovalov (14) on the Margaret Court Arena track.
The left-handed duel provided a fast-paced first set after both the Frenchman and the Spanish shielded their services until a tie-break game that was decided by an exciting 14-12 in favor of the 20-big champion.
Mannarino’s proposal, which stole time from his rival with early flat impacts, pushed a Nadal to the limit who had to bring out his repertoire of spectacular shots that put Rod Laver Arena on its feet excited by a round of 16 flavored with final.
Nadal closed out a first set that lasted one hour and 21 minutes on his seventh match point, while the Frenchman squandered four chances to score the opening round.
Mannarino’s brilliance faded as a result of wear and tear as well as the high temperature and Nadal, who maintained his intensity and concentration, comfortably won a second set 6-2 in which he touched 90% of the points with first serves.
Mannarino, who played a round of 16 for the first time on the banks of the Yarra, exchanged a few words with one of the tournament doctors about problems related to his left groin.
It was a mirage the Frenchman’s break to equal one what would be the last set after Nadal’s forcefulness ended the limited plan of an exhausted Mannarino.
The sixth-ranked player in the world closed the match with 15 aces, 39 winners and 21 unforced errors.
Following the win, Nadal equaled local John Newcombe with fourteen appearances in the Australian Open quarterfinals in a standings led by Switzerland’s Roger Federer with 15.
The man from Manaco has reached the quarterfinals 45 times out of 63 Grand Slam appearances since turning professional in 2001.