WIMBLEDON: Rafael Nadal’s quest for a third title at Wimbledon is gaining momentum after he breezed past Portugal’s Joao Sousa in the fourth round on Monday.
Nadal, who hasn’t won the grass-court major since 2010, was in a clinical mood during his 6-2, 6-2, 6-2, win over the world No.69. Hitting 30 winners to 10 unforced errors without facing a single break point during the match. Gifting Nadal his 70th win on the grass as a professional player.
“It was a good solid match, the second serve didn’t work as well as two days ago, but the rest was very positive,” Nadal told BBC Sport.
“I am happy to be where I am, the body is holding well and I’m playing some good tennis.”
A near-perfect start saw the former world No.1 drop only four points on route to a 4-0 lead in a blink of an eyelid. Sousa, who knocked out Dan Evans in the previous round, managed to regain his footing later on but the damage was already done. In just under half an hour Nadal closed out the opener with ease. Earning his first set point thanks to a forehand error from Sousa, before converting it with a clean backhand cross-court winner.
Continuing to dominate, the Spaniard showed no signs of letting his opponent work his way in. Sousa threw everything he had, but Nadal had all the answers to his questions. Emulating the opening set by breaking at the start of the second. Cruising towards the two-set lead, the third seed continued to capitalize on the mistakes made from across the court. Securing a double break with ease before closing it out with a love service game.
Racing towards the finish line, Nadal closed out the match with ease. In the third set, it was just a single point he dropped behind his first serve as he eased towards victory. Converting his first match point with a 121 mph ace out wide.
The emphatic win has irked some people in the world of tennis. On Manic Monday, where all fourth-round matches are played at Wimbledon, two of the three Center Court matches are men’s. Women’s No.1 Ash Barty was made of play her match on Court Two.
“I am the world No. 2 and I won 18 Grand Slams,” Nadal light-heartedly joked during his press conference.
“In the world of tennis today, honestly, my feeling is today I am a little bit more than Ashleigh Barty, even if Ashleigh Barty is the first player of the world and she already won in the French Open and she is playing unbelievable good.”
Elaborating further, Nadal insisted that there was no problem when it comes to finding the right balance in scheduling at Wimbledon. However, Victoria Azarenka has previously said that women are not treated the same as men.
“For me the first day I have been playing on Court 1. I played in Suzanne Lenglen in Roland Garros, if I’m not wrong, in the second round.” Said Nadal.
“Every day is a decision. We cannot create polemics about that. Court No. 2, okay, they have to make decisions. Today they probably decided that. They have other girls playing on the Centre Court now.”
Despite being known as the king of the clay, Nadal has now recorded 52 wins at Wimbledon. The eight highest amount among men in the Open Era.
