Rafael Nadal secured a hard-fought victory against Alex de Minaur in the second round of the Madrid Open, prevailing 7-6 (6), 6-3. The win comes as a redemption for Nadal, who suffered a straight-set loss to the Australian just eleven days prior.
Nadal, plagued by injuries in recent years, is focused on maintaining his competitiveness rather than chasing titles, emphasizing his desire to play at his best. His victory over De Minaur marks a significant milestone in his comeback journey.
Speaking of his aspirations for the upcoming French Open, a tournament he has won a record 14 times, Nadal expressed cautious optimism, acknowledging the challenges of the demanding five-set format.
While cheered on by notable figures such as Spanish King Felipe VI and soccer legend Zinedine Zidane, Nadal remains grounded, acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding his body’s ability to withstand the rigors of elite competition.
Following his triumph over De Minaur, Nadal gears up to face Pedro Cachin in the third round, maintaining his focus on each match as he navigates his farewell season.
In other matches, top seeds including Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek advanced smoothly, with Sinner defeating Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3, and Swiatek overpowering Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1.
Notable upsets include seventh-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas falling to Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro, and ninth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov’s defeat against Jakub Mensik. The women’s draw saw Coco Gauff progressing past Dayana Yastremska and Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, and Jelena Ostapenko advancing to the next round as well.
