A day after his 31st birthday, Rafael Nadal looks about as dominant as ever on the red clay of Roland Garros.
In a fourth-round battle between Spaniards, the king of clay made quick work of world No. 18 Roberto Bautista Agut, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. This came just two days after Nadal’s 6-0, 6-1, 6-0 rout of Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Impressive #Nadal !! Rafa cruises in quarter-finals thanks a 6-1 6-2 6-2 express win vs Roberto Bautista-Agut ⚡️⚡️ #RG17 pic.twitter.com/9sLMSf1GQY
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) June 4, 2017
In Set 1, Nadal took the first break of the match at 15 for a 2-0 lead by sliding into a short forehand drop shot. In the next game, though, Nadal double-faulted, setting up a 15-40 situation. He then missed a forehand long, giving Bautista Agut his first game and putting the set back on serve.
Nadal then regained the one-break lead for 3-1 after a series of missed forehands from Bautista Agut. He went on to save two break points, one with a backhand pass, to go up 4-1.
In the game that followed, Nadal broke Bautista Agut’s serve yet again on a crosscourt backhand. He then backed the break up by serving out the 6-1 baguette.
Bautista Agut began the second set by holding to love. But his next service game was a marathon one, and Nadal won it with a dink forehand pass to take a 2-1 lead. Nadal, then consolidated the break to love.
Bautista Agut later gave up a second break via a double fault for 2-5. Nadal then held to love for the second set.
6-1, 6-4 6-1, 6-1, 6-4, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2
Rafael Nadal's 2017 French Open so far.
— David Law (@DavidLawTennis) June 4, 2017
Bautista Agut was barely able to hold his serve to start the third set, having to fight off three break points.
Nadal, down 1-2 on serve, faced a break point, which he eliminated with a crosscourt forehand winner. He then completed the hold.
Nadal next broke Bautista Agut at 15, and then held to 15 for 4-2.
And at 30-40 in RBA’s next service game, Nadal jumped on a second serve to hit a forehand return winner down the line for a 5-2 advantage. He then held for 6-2.
In the quarterfinals, Nadal will play the winner for No. 5 seed Milos Raonic and No. 20 seed Pablo Carreño Busta.
