Rafael Nadal had a complicated 3^rd round in Madrid against Sam Querrey. The world no.5 had a very slow start to collect just 2 points in the first three games and trail on a 0-3 score line. Eventually, Rafa found is tennis to win seven consecutive games and reverse the score from 1-4 to 6-4 2-0 in his favor; at that point Rafa was broken again (2-2), but the Spanish legend had another great stint to score four consecutive games and win the match 6-4 6-2.

Nadal. Stepping back was key

Rafa identified a particular tactic that helped him to win the match “He was going to serve for 5-3 with new balls. You know that you’re at the limit, and you can lose the set. Not the match, because you still have another set to go, but it is tough [to be in that position]. In that moment, I decided to step back a little bit and change my game. I tried to close the gap so that he couldn’t just go for it. I think it worked out.”

The quarterfinal vs. Sousa

Rafa was on a collision course with Federer in the quarters, but after Roger had retired, there was a little gap opened in that part of the draw. Joao Sousa was great to get in that gap so as to face Nadal in the quarters. The head to head is 1-0 for Rafa that disintegrated Sousa in 6-1 6-0 in the Rio quarters in 2014.

THE DRAW