Day 9 of Australian Open 2019, and the first quarter finals. Final match in the night session on Rod Laver Arena was:
Frances Tiafoe (USA) v Rafa Nadal (2) (ESP)
Nadal served first.
The number two seed delivered two aces in a love game. Nadal led 1-0.
On break point, Nadal forced a forehand error and broke Tiafoe. 2-0.
A second love game to the Spaniard, sealed with an ace, and a 3-0 lead.
Tiafoe held serve, forcing Nadal into errors on the backhand helped.
1-3.
The pair exchanged solid service games until Nadal was serving for the set at 5-3.
After a couple of unforced errors - one each - Nadal hit a forehand winner to bring up two set points. Another of those stinging forehands brought Nadal the first set 6-3.
Unfortunately for Tiafoe, the opening game of set two was a disaster. A trio of unforced errors created triple break point for Nadal. A winning forehand saw Nadal lead 1-0 with a break.
This was followed by a quick consolidation of serve, a pair of aces included. Tiafoe held serve, based on three Nadal errors and the American trailed 1-2.
Nadal found himself down break point after his unforced errors and a Tiafoe forehand winner. That was saved, plus another. Four deuces were visited and in the end Tiafoe unforced errors helped Nadal hold for 3-1.
At 3-5, Tiafoe was down 15-40. He saved the two break points with an ace and forehand winner. Another break point was kicked aside before Tiafoe served an ace to hold for 4-5.
Nadal had no trouble serving out the set to love, two forehand winners the final highlights. 6-3 6-4 the lead.
Tiafoe dropped serve in the opening game of set three, an American unforced error on the second of two break points. 1-0 to the Spaniard.
At 2-4, Tiafoe trailed 15-40 after forced and unforced indiscretions. Nadal’s forehand winner on the first break point sent his stocks even higher to 5-2.
Serving for the match, Nadal began with a pair of aces. He created two break points following a forehand winner, and on the first of the break points the match ended with a Tiafoe forced backhand error.
Rafa Nadal won 6-3 6-4 6-2 in a dominant display, and would play Stefanos Tsitsipas in a semi final.
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