Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal resolved this Wednesday with comeback (4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4) his demanding debut at the 1,000 Masters in Paris, where his compatriot Feliciano López put him on the ropes, on the Balearic’s return to the slopes and to the French capital after winning Roland Garros.
The one from Manacor already knew what awaited him. It wasn’t just any second round. It was a tournament debut that he has never won, in the condition he least likes is ‘indoor’ hard court, Without an audience due to the coronavirus pandemic, almost a month after his last game – on land – and before a punch and an old acquaintance.
Slowly but without pause, Nadal knew how to give his game time to adapt to the situation, even if it turned ‘in extremis’, in the sudden death of the second set. In the third Feliciano ran and did not give up, but Nadal made him his 1,000 victim, the number of ATP victories he celebrated this Wednesday. The number two in the world will be measured in the round of 16 with the Australian Jordan Thompson.
The reunion of compatriots, in their 14th duel, came five years after the last chapter, and Feliciano showed the confidence of having already played and won a first round. The first set turned out that well, especially with a first-class break that was worth its weight in gold. Nadal paid for that failed start and did not generate excessive problems for the rest, with Feli closing in blank.
The serve was the lifeline of Toledo and it continued to be in the second set, but Nadal was already around the answer. The Spaniard, with a lot of error and a 0 of 5 in break balls, forgave his rival and had to play it in the tie-break. There, a 4-3 and serve for the manacorí was the point that tipped the part from Nadal’s side, thus forcing a hard third set for Feliciano.
The 13-time Roland Garros champion had already changed the chip, I was already at work. The rest in the first serve was suffered by his compatriot, who no longer had an infallible weapon. Nadal broke and took a giant step, despite the fact that Feliciano wanted to react immediately and fought him. Nadal saved two ‘break’ balls and saved his income to solve a trap back in Paris.
After his victory, the ATP recognized on the track his 1,000th triumph in the Circuit, something that only the Swiss Roger Federer (1,242) boasts of currently active tennis players. The American Jimmy Connors (1,274) and the Czech Ivan Lendl (1,068) also reached that reconda figure.
The day left the Spanish victory of Alejandro Davidovich, who beat Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-4, 6-4, with a great reaction in the second set so as not to extend the game. The man from Malaga will face Argentine Diego Schwartzman, the best placed to win the last ticket to the ATP Finals.
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