The 38-year-old Rafael Nadal is through to his second quarter-final of the season in Bastad. Nadal is playing at this event for the first time since winning the title in 2005, picking Bastad as his final preparation for the Olympic Games in Paris.
The veteran defeated Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 43 minutes in the second round, booking a place in the last eight. Rafa beat Cameron for the fifth time in six encounters, serving well and overcoming a deficit in the second set.
The Spaniard liked his level against a tough opponent, especially after playing only one match between the Rome Masters and Bastad. While appreciating some elements of his game, Rafa would love to keep a high intensity throughout matches, hoping to achieve that with more encounters in his legs.
Nadal did not face a break point against Leo Borg in the first round, and he saved three out of four break chances offered to Norrie.
Rafa landed in 72% of the first serve, notching five aces and pressuring his opponent. The Briton lost 41% of the points behind the initial shot and lost serve three times from seven chances offered to the Spaniard. Despite periods with a less aggressive approach and shorter balls, Nadal tamed his strokes nicely and forged the advantage in the quickest and most advanced rallies.
The veteran embraced a notable run from 4-1 down in the second set, rattling off 20 of the final 23 points and moving over the finish line in style. They served well early on, and Rafa secured the sixth game with a service winner after a deuce for 3-3.
Rafael Nadal is through to the last eight in Bastad.
Nadal made a push on the return in the seventh game after a drop shot winner, earning two break points and missing them.
However, he broke Norrie on the third chance after the rival’s forehand error, moving in front and firing forehand winners in the next one for 5-3. Rafa served for the opener at 5-4 and played against two break points. He saved them and landed two service winners for 6-4 after 49 minutes.
Cameron denied a break point in the first game of the second set and delivered his only break at 2-1. The Briton earned two break points with a drop shot winner and welcomed the Spaniard’s forehand error, moving in front and playing against a break chance in the next one.
Norrie saved it with a backhand error and fired a backhand crosscourt winner to cement the break and open a 4-1 advantage. Rafa stayed focused and kicked off his notable streak with a hold at 15 in game six after a service winner.
The veteran pulled the break back at love with a backhand winner a few minutes later, reducing the deficit and gaining a boost. The 2005 champion held at love in game eight for 4-4 and made another push on the return in the next one.
Nadal converted a break point with a backhand down the line winner, moving 5-4 in front and serving for a place in the quarter-final. The Spaniard generated three match points with a service winner and landed an ace for a place in his fourth Bastad quarter-final in a row, starting the streak in 2003!
I had been out since Roland Garros, and it feels great to compete at this level against a rival like Cameron. I played good tennis at some moments, and I lacked being more aggressive in others. I’m lacking matches, and victories like this always help.
I have to work on my rhythm and find a way to keep the pressure on my opponent for an entire match,” Rafael Nadal said.
