Indian Wells, CA, Mar 17 (U.S.) Nursing a troublesome foot injury, Rafael Nadal became the second player in ATP Tour history to start an 18-0 season, beating Riley Opelka 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) ) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Only Novak Djokovic has started better since 1990. The Serbian went 26-0 to start 2020 and 41-0 to open 2011, according to the Associated Press.
“I can’t say it was a dream because I couldn’t even dream about it three months ago, two months ago,” Nadal said. “I enjoy every moment.”
Last year, Nadal’s playing time was interrupted by COVID-19 and injuries, which created doubts about the Spanish star’s ability to recover well enough to maintain his stringent standards. But he won his 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and kept cutting.
“I am very happy because I play tennis,” said Nadal, who turns 36 in June. “Today was a little worse than the other days. It is true that the foot in the past two days has been bothering me a little more.”
Nadal has already pulled out of the Miami Open, which follows Indian Wells. He wants extra time to prepare for the clay court season, which isn’t as punitive as the hard court.
Nadal recovered from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to advance 6-5. Opelka held off after three stumbles when Nadal hit a forehand to chase down the American’s shot to force the second tiebreak.
Nadal took a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak when Opelka struggled with his serve. Despite serving, the 6-foot-11 American closed in at 4-3, hitting the winners with a falling shot and a forehand.
Back in his serve, he closed the Opelka 6-5.
But Nadal closed it by dragging an Opelka off the field and the Americans’ backhand landed wide.
“It’s about trying to hit the balls so that you don’t risk too much, but at the same time you don’t let him in and shoot,” Nadal said. “You’re trying to find the right balance between those two things.”
There were no service breaks in the first group. Opelka battled the lone break point in the seventh inning with a crushing forehand. Nadal retained the 6-all love, forcing the tiebreak. Opelka led 3-2 with a forehand win down the line. Nadal won the next five points, all due to Opelka’s errors, to take the set.
Nadal has improved to 19-0 against American opponents since losing to John Isner at the 2017 Laver Cup.
Nadal, a three-time desert champion, qualified for the quarter-finals against wild card Nick Kyrgios. The Australian has advanced to the ATP Tour quarter-finals since winning Washington in 2019 after 10th seed Yannick Sener withdrew due to illness.
Taylor Fritz hit 14 aces to outsmart Alex de Minaur 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
“I have more confidence in my shot, so when the time comes to crunch, I feel like I can trust what I want to do, and trust my game,” said Fritz, who reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells last year.
Next, Fritz will play Miomir Kekmanovic of Serbia in the quarter-finals. Kikmanovic defeated 14 aces of No. 6 seed Matteo Berrettini in a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 victory.
Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat John Isner 6-3, 7-6 (6).
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