ATP Toronto:
Rafa Nadal (1) wasn’t in the mood to give Stefanos Tsitsipas any birthday presents on finals day in the Rogers Cup. He broke the Greek player twice from five chances and led 4-1 in the opening set.
At 1-5, serving to stay alive, Tsitsipas received some assistance from Nadal in the form of rare unforced errors, and an ace sealed a comfortable service hold 2-5.
A forehand winner and an ace helped Nadal to three set points and he only needed one to lead 6-2.
Nadal struck a blow straight away by breaking the Tsitsipas serve in game one of set two, then consolidated with an easy hold for 2-0.
After losing the first point of the next game, Tsitsipas won the rest to hold and trail 1-2.
A Spanish winning down the line backhand amid Greek mistakes presented a simple game to Nadal and he was ahead 3-1. 14 points in a row on his serve.
Not even a Nadal backhand winner could prevent Tsitsipas from winning another game and he was much more competitive at 2-3.
Winners at the beginning and end of the game and Nadal was 4-2.
Tsitsipas made sure to stay close with overhead and forehand winners taking him to 3-4.
Winners and an ace for Nadal and 5-3. Tsitsipas forced Nadal to serve out the match, holding for 4-5.
Nadal netted and 0-15. A backhand long and 0-30. A Greek miss was followed by a Spanish double fault and two break back points, the first for Tsitsipas in the match. One saved. Not the second as Nadal’s backhand found the net. 5-5.
Three winning forehands and Tsitsipas led 6-5.
Nadal survived a set point luckily as the ball hit the net and rolled over. He held for a tie break.
Tsitsipas had the early advantage, 2-1 with serves to come, but lost one of those. A great drop shot from Nadal and 3-3 at the first end change.
Nadal won the point on his next serve, then importantly one of the points on the Greek delivery, and despite a brilliant winner from Tsitsipas, had 5-4 with two serves in hand.
A Tsitsipas error gave Nadal two match points, and on the first he hit a forehand winner to claim victory 6-2 7-6(4), his fifth title for 2018, including of course his 11th Roland Garros crown.
A fourth Rogers Cup triumph, a 33rd Masters 1000 trophy, and a stronger lead as world number one, Nadal is firming as one of the true contenders for the US Open, for which he is the defending champion.
As for Stefanos Tsitsipas, he has had the week of his life, and was so close to giving Nadal a third set. Irrespective, at just 20 - he ended his teen years today - the Greek sensation has an enormous future.
Now a top twenty player, he has proven that he can mix it with the elite.
No comments:
Post a Comment