ATP Tour: Impressive Nadal rallies past Norrie to reach quarters at Bastad
Spanish former World No.1 Rafael Nadal came up with his most complete performance of the 2024 season, storming into the quarterfinals of the Nordea Open here on Thursday.
Spain tennis star Rafael Nadal eased past Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-4 on Thursday at the Paris Masters to qualify for the round of 16. Meanwhile, the World No 2 also maintained his 1,280-point lead over Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race To London.
“I know how dangerous Adrian is in this court. The court here is fast, the bounce is low, so I think is a perfect court for him,” Nadal was quoted as saying on ATP Tour website. “So I went on court knowing it (was) going to be very tough one. I needed to play well, and I think I did. My serve worked very well during the whole match. I think I played at the right level.
“Not easy to come back on the Tour after a while without being on the Tour. And playing in this surface… and against a very dangerous opponent, in the first round for me, second for him. So (I’ m) very happy with the victory.”
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Nadal will next meet Swiss Stan Wawrinka at 12 am (IST) on 1 November. Wawrinka who inched Croatian Marin Cilic 7-6(3), 7-6(5) in just under two hours.
Rafa’s up & running in Paris 💪@stanwawrinka awaits… 👀@RafaelNadal | @RolexPMasters pic.twitter.com/649JF2pxWA
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 30, 2019
Talking about Djokovic, he beat Frenchman Corentin Moutet earlier Wednesday and is looking to pass Nadal in the Race and finish as the year-end No 1 for the sixth time. But Nadal controls his destiny. If the Spaniard wins his first Rolex Paris Masters crown, he will end the year No. 1 for the fifth time.
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