Rafael Nadal on Tuesday lost in straight sets to 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round at the Madrid Open, while Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei advanced to the semi-finals in the women’s doubles.
Nadal said that he was feeling good about his progress following his latest injury layoff.
Nadal called it a “positive week” in every way and said his body held up well.
Photo: AFP
“I was able to play four matches, a couple of tough matches,” Nadal said. “So very positive, winning three matches, playing four matches at the high level of tennis. I enjoyed a lot playing at home. I leave here with very positive energy.”
Nadal arrived in Madrid pessimistic about his physical condition and he was not even sure if he would be able to play.
He said that he only took to the courts because it was an emotional tournament for him.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The 37-year-old Nadal is playing in his final year on tour.
“Today is unforgettable day in terms of saying goodbye, Madrid, but my career keeps going and I have my personal goals that I have got in the next couple of weeks, and I want to explore if I have any chance to achieve that,” he said.
Nadal said that Rome, where he has won 10 titles, was also emotional for him.
“That’s another very special tournament in my career,” he said. “I dreamed to play all these tournaments that I had success one more time. I missed Monte Carlo unfortunately, that is one of the most special for me, but Rome is one of these ones that I enjoyed a lot playing there.”
After the match, tournament organizers unfurled five banners for each of Nadal’s titles in Madrid — 2005, 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017.
Earlier, Carlos Alcaraz, needed nearly three hours to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4).
Top seed Jannick Sinner defeated 16th seed Karen Khachanov 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the quarter-finals.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev was given the run around by Alexander Bublik before winning 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 to book a match against Lehecka.
In the women’s singles, top-ranked Iga Swiatek rallied for a 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 win over Beatriz Haddad Maia to reach the semi-finals for a second straight year.
She faces 18th seed Madison Keys of the US, who overcame eighth seed Ons Jabeur 0-6, 7-5, 6-1 after losing the first eight games of the match.
In the women’s doubles, Hsieh and partner Elise Mertens of Belgium defeated Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Kichenok and Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-7 (0/7), 6-2, 10-7 in their quarter-final on the red clay at Caja Magica.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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