In 2018, returning from injury, he lifted his eleventh title in Monte Carlo and then in Barcelona. But who will win this one?
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Nadal had not dropped a set on clay since his reverse against Thiem at the Internazionali d’Italia last May.
As a result, not only does Nadal’s record-breaking streak of 50 sets won on a single surface come to an end, but the Spaniard will lose his world No 1 ranking to Roger Federer on Monday.
The 31-year-old Anderson may also be looking at a new career high ranking of No7, depending upon how his fellow quarter-finalists played.
The second seeds recovered from their second-set mauling to take an 8-3 lead in the super tiebreak and despite Chan’s former partner Hlavackova dropping both her serve’s with the victory in sight, Strycova clinched the victory when she served the only ace of the match on their second match point.
Earlier in the day, the tall South African defeated Dusan Lajovic 7-6 (3), 3-6, 6-3. With AP Photos.Top-ranked Rafael Nadal has lost to Dominic Thiem 7-5, 6-3 in the Madrid Open quarterfinals. However, he upset the Spaniard in Rome past year, winning 6-3 6-3.
Austrian world No.7 Dominic Thiem piles on the aggression in the Madrid Open quarter-final.
The showdown was a far cry from the 6-0, 6-2 beatdown Nadal had delivered to Thiem in Monte Carlo a few weeks ago, and it wasn’t just because of the difference in altitude and conditions between the two locations.
It was the Austrian who was the last to beat Nadal, that came in Rome past year and fast forward to Madrid, he again proved a thorn in Nadal’s side. Schwartzman broke back, but two straight double-faults gave Nadal a third break en route to the win. “I was not under control of the point [for most of] the match”, Nadal said. Historical player analysis shows that it’s very hard to maintain such a ‘clutch’ ability, and perhaps he’s over-performed a little this week.
The Madrid Open this week is being shown on Sky Sports. It was Delbonis who took the first set, winning it with a late break.
The 24-year-old Austrian broke Anderson in a nine-minute opening game which was enough to secure the first set in 49 minutes.
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Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, announced her plans Thursday to open the summer hard court season in San Jose – a marquee addition for the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic that runs from July 30 to August 5. Thiem is able to summon plenty of topspin himself. “Trying to tell myself as much as possible that today was my day”.
