Home » Rafael Nadal says, “Rafael Nadal had a match point, and then I..”

At the start of the match, Nadal maintained his 30-point lead after forcing Medvedev’s backhand blunder. In the third game, he had to work hard before thwarting three break attempts. In game six, Daniil locked the outcome for the third time after securing the fourth game with a service winner.

Rafa was able to clinch the set 6-3 on his service after Medvedev lost ground at 3-4 and smacked a forehand error that cost him a break at love. In set two, Daniil played more aggressively, collecting 21 wins and ten unforced errors to take a 4-1 lead.

The younger competitor took 12 of the first 13 points and, following the Spaniard’s double fault in game two, gained a break. Forging a 4-1 lead with an ace, Medvedev then set up a break opportunity in the following game that might have given him a bigger lead.

With a forehand winner in the following point to cut the deficit in half, Nadal salvaged it and brought the break back. Rafa won the next four games in a row and the match at 5-4 by holding at 15 and breaking again in game nine.

To keep Medvedev in contention, the Spaniard took a costly break at love rather than finishing the match in an hour and a half. The Russian improved and won the tie-break 7-4 to force a decision. At 3-3, a smash winner gave Daniil the advantage and a break.

A few minutes later, he solidified his lead with a powerful forehand attack and produced his second break at 5-3 to break Nadal‘s resistance and secure the victory.