As Rafael Nadal continues to strengthen his physical condition, intensity, and overall performance necessary for competing in five-set matches against the world’s top players at the French Open, he made significant progress in his return by winning a challenging and fluctuating match to advance to the fourth round of the Madrid Open. Nadal secured a victory over Pedro Cachín of Argentina with scores of 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3.
After an 18-month hiatus from the tour due to various injuries, Nadal entered the tournament surrounded by uncertainty. However, he demonstrated considerable improvement. Following a second-round victory over Alex de Minaur, the 10th seed, Nadal persevered through a three-hour and four-minute match against Cachín, ranked 91st globally. He managed to raise his game at a crucial juncture in the third set.
Reflecting on his recent challenges, Nadal stated, “Three and a half weeks ago, I was almost unable to move at Manacor, consistently losing to players from the academy. Now, I’m back competing with the guys on the tour—and winning. It’s important to recognize this progress, no matter how modest. Despite the unique circumstances of my career, I’ve always focused on appreciating minor improvements. I am determined to navigate this process again, even though it presents a far greater challenge.
Nadal Prepares for Upcoming Match Against Jiri Lehecka
With all men’s fourth-round matches completed on Tuesday, Rafael Nadal is gearing up for a significant challenge as he prepares to face Jiri Lehecka, a skilled 22-year-old Czech player ranked 30th, at 10 PM local time. Nadal, feeling physically fit unlike after his three-set match against Jordan Thompson in January which resulted in a three-month hiatus, remains cautious. He plans to assess his condition in the morning to decide his readiness for the match.
Nadal’s Uncertainty and Results from Madrid Tournament
“I don’t have that negative feeling now like I had in that moment, but nobody knows what will happen overnight and how I’ll feel when I wake up tomorrow morning,” said Nadal. “And that’s the truth. I’m not saying this to protect myself. I am speaking from the heart and expressing exactly how I feel right now. Let’s wait for tomorrow. I hope nothing adverse happens, and I look forward to being on the court.”
Casper Ruud, the fifth seed, ended 29th seed Cameron Norrie’s hopes of advancing further in Madrid, securing a victory with scores of 6-2, 6-4 on Monday night. In the women’s category, top seed Iga Swiatek defeated local favorite Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1, 6-0, advancing to the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, the fourth seed, Elena Rybakina, continued her strong performance, defeating Sara Bejlek 6-1, 6-3.
