The 8 times champion was down 1-3 in the opening set and he had even to save a break point to avoid even more misery. It seemed as an incredible upset was in the air, but then Rafa went back to his tennis to then win 11 games out of 13 and defeats Gabashvili 6-4 6-1. Match Stats
Talking about the break point he had to save when he was 1-3 down, Rafa commented “It was very important that point, 3-1, break point for him. I saved it with one good shot and one good volley. After that I felt that was the time to try to push a little bit more and increase a little bit the rhythm and the intensity. I did, I think. I played a good game to have the break back. I felt that I had the match a little bit more under control.
Always in the first match, the thing that you want at the beginning is get into a rhythm, play some long points, find the feelings. But I didn’t have that chance because he started very quick with finding the winners on the first ball that he could.”
Rafa will now have to play Andreas Seppi. Head to head is 4-1 for the Mallorcan
