Home » Lorenzo Sonego retains Rafael Nadal in the top 10 in the ATP Dubai.

For another week, Rafael Nadal will remain in the top 10. Next Monday may be the end of an unbelievable top-10 run for a 22-time Major champion, but it hasn’t happened yet. For the first time since 2005, Rafa had to be passed by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Holger Rune, and Hubert Hurkacz with strong performances this week, but that did not happen.

In Dubai, Felix needed to go to the quarterfinals but lost to Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. The Italian advanced to the quarterfinals with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over the Canadian in an hour and 55 minutes. Once broken in the second set, Felix served at 49% and ruined his chances.

Lorenzo kept the adversary away from break opportunities and dropped eight points after the opening shot. The Italian won the first game in a tie-break and the second with a solitary break that gave him the victory. Sonego increased his lead in the mid-range exchanges up to four strokes by hitting 23 successful shots and 19 unforced errors.

On Monday, Rafael Nadal will still be among the top ten.

In the first game, the servers were too skilled, producing 12 easy holds to institute a tie break. Felix came back from being down 30-15 to tie the match after winning a service point when serving to stay in the set at 4-5.

With an unreturned serve, Lorenzo ended the 11th game, and Auger-Aliassime finished out the 12th game at point 15 to start the tie break. In the second point, Felix missed a forehand and fell down 2-0; Lorenzo then increased his lead to 4-1 with a successful service.

Before the Italian scored a stunning volley winner for 5-3, the Canadian won the next two games on his serve. In the ninth point, Sonego’s missing backhand gave the opponent the advantage once more. In the tenth point, Felix requested the incorrect challenge, which resulted in two set points.

Lorenzo just required one, scoring on a long return and causing an error from the opposition to win the first game and build momentum. In the second set, the Italian only lost a point after the opening stroke, and the Canadian was unable to maintain that momentum and win another tie break.

Felix missed game-winning opportunities at 3-3 and saved a break point at 1-1. Following Auger-costly Aliassime’s double fault, Lorenzo got a break and went up 4-3. Sonego won the eighth game 5-3 with a forehand down the line winner and held at 15 in the tenth game to win the match and go to the quarterfinals.