Rafael Nadal had a tough encounter against the American no.1 John Isner.
Rafa is not new to battles against John, but eventually he has always found the solution. The same happened yesterday when the King of Clay went to the distance to win 7-6 (6) 4-6 6-3. The big moment was in the 2nd set when Isner had to recover a 0-40 deficit (the score was 4-all). Eventually John managed to hold his serve and break Rafa in the following game. In the decider Rafa won the decisive break in the 4th game (3-1). Match Stats
Nadal: This is very important for me
Rafa commented “My mentality in the third [was] very positive. The game, the level of tennis, [it] improved a little bit in the third than in the previous two sets. That’s very important for me. [I am] very happy to be in quarter-finals. [It is a] very important result for me.”
It’s a challenge for me to find again the positive feelings, the confidence, the feeling that I am strong again. Matches like today, third set today, helps to improve, helps to arrive to that place that I want to be.”
Next vs. Ferrer
Rafa will play David Ferrer in the quarters. Head to head is 22-6 for Rafa, but David Ferrer has managed to beat him last here in Monte-Carlo also in the quarters. This is going to be a tough test for the King of Clay.
| TAKE THAT! |
| THE KING IS STILL THERE |