MADRID - Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, on Wednesday, May 11, defeated America’s John Isner 6-3, 6-1 to reach the third round of the ongoing Italian Open.
The 35-year-old Nadal came into the game after a loss to 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open. After a first-round bye, the veteran improved to 44-0 in matches on clay following a defeat on the surface. Most importantly, Nadal regained some confidence as he recovered from a rib stress fracture that ruled him out for six weeks before the championship in Madrid.
Having already won 10 Italian Open titles, Nadal’s goal is regaining his top form in time for the upcoming French Open, which gets underway in less than two weeks. Nadal has won 13 of his 21 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros. The match against Isner was mostly decided during one brief stretch. Nadal struggled on his serve at 3-3 in the first set, missing a forehand into the net after which he double-faulted to set up break points for Isner. But Isner made unforced errors on both of his break-point opportunities and Nadal went on to hold his serve.
In the next game, Nadal broke Isner’s serve when the American missed an easy-looking forehand volley into the net. The Spaniard then held at love to close out the first set and broke Isner’s serve in the opening game of the second set.
Nadal improved to 19-0 against Isner on clay, having been forced to a deciding set only twice. Isner pushed Nadal to five sets at the 2011 French Open and three sets at the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal is next set to lock horns with Denis Shapovalov, the Canadian he defeated at the same stage in a grueling three-set comeback victory in 2021 where the Spanish player saved two match points. Alexander Zverev beat Sebastian Baez 7-6 (6), 6-3.
In the women’s tournament, Amanda Anisimova, the 2019 French Open semifinalist, knocked out Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 7-6 (5), 6-1, and Croatian qualifier Petra Martic beat fifth-seeded Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-3. Madrid finalist Jessica Pegula went to the next round when Anhelina Kalinina withdrew before their match because of an upper back injury.
The 35-year-old Nadal came into the game after a loss to 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal of the Madrid Open. After a first-round bye, the veteran improved to 44-0 in matches on clay following a defeat on the surface. Most importantly, Nadal regained some confidence as he recovered from a rib stress fracture that ruled him out for six weeks before the championship in Madrid.
Having already won 10 Italian Open titles, Nadal’s goal is regaining his top form in time for the upcoming French Open, which gets underway in less than two weeks. Nadal has won 13 of his 21 Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros. The match against Isner was mostly decided during one brief stretch. Nadal struggled on his serve at 3-3 in the first set, missing a forehand into the net after which he double-faulted to set up break points for Isner. But Isner made unforced errors on both of his break-point opportunities and Nadal went on to hold his serve.
In the next game, Nadal broke Isner’s serve when the American missed an easy-looking forehand volley into the net. The Spaniard then held at love to close out the first set and broke Isner’s serve in the opening game of the second set.
Nadal improved to 19-0 against Isner on clay, having been forced to a deciding set only twice. Isner pushed Nadal to five sets at the 2011 French Open and three sets at the 2015 Monte Carlo Masters. Nadal is next set to lock horns with Denis Shapovalov, the Canadian he defeated at the same stage in a grueling three-set comeback victory in 2021 where the Spanish player saved two match points. Alexander Zverev beat Sebastian Baez 7-6 (6), 6-3.
In the women’s tournament, Amanda Anisimova, the 2019 French Open semifinalist, knocked out Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic 7-6 (5), 6-1, and Croatian qualifier Petra Martic beat fifth-seeded Anett Kontaveit 6-2, 6-3. Madrid finalist Jessica Pegula went to the next round when Anhelina Kalinina withdrew before their match because of an upper back injury.
