ATP
AO Men: Day 3 review
Rafael Nadal was humbled 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round on Wednesday to make his earliest exit at a major since 2016, with the defending champion suffering with a hip injury against Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion last lost this early at a Grand Slam here in 2016, when he went down in five sets to fellow Spanird Fernando Verdasco.
“It’s a tough day. I cannot say I am not destroyed mentally at this time because I would be lying,” Nadal said.
“In the end, I can’t complain about my life at all. But just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, that’s another one.”
He added that the injury could not have come at a worse time: “It wasn’t the right moment to have something like this. Sometimes it’s difficult to accept.
“Sometimes you’re tired of this kind of things with injuries. Now it’s a tough moment, you have to accept and keep going.”
Nadal was treated off court for his hip while trailing a set and 5-3.
But his 65th-ranked American opponent held his nerve during the pause, keeping up the pressure once Nadal returned to battle.
Nadal and Mcdonald had played once before, with 22-time Grand Slam winner from Spain losing just four games at 2020 Roland Garros.
The challenger came to the court after a five-set win in the opening round over compatriot Brandon Nakashima. His defeat of Nadal marked his first win over a Top 5 player at a major.
“I’m really happy with how I started,” McDonald said. “I was serving well and taking it to him.
“I found a way to pull it off.”
The winner said he tried to overlook his opponent’s condition: rafa’s an incredible champion, he will never give up regardless of the situation.
“Closing it out against a top guy is tough. I tried to stay focused on what I was doing – I’m glad I got through.”
Each player ended with 42 winners in the big-hitting battle on the Laver showcourt.
“I’ve got the guns to beat him, I was blasting the ball, hitting flat,” McDonald said. plan. He kicked my butt at Roland Garros.
“But I like my chances on hard court. I’m glad I got the opportunity and got away with (the win).”
Italy’s Jannik Sinner, seeded 12th, continued an anonymous trip through the draw, winning his second-round match in straight sets and hammering 32 winners in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 defeat of Tomas Etcheverry.
The Argentine and the Italian former teenaged ski racer are practice partners and know each other’s games well.
But there has been no stopping the 15th-seeded Sinner so far this week, with both of his wins coming on the John Cain Arena, one of three covered venues in the complex.
The roof came in handy as rain wrecked a programme which was already delayed by poor weather late on Tuesday evening.
Sinner reached quarter-finals in three of the four Grand Slam last season, including in Melbourne.
“I’m very happy to be in the next round. Hopefully the rain will stop,” he said.
“My level today was good: I served and returned well.”
Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime came back from two sets down to produce a 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Slovak Alex Molcan in just over three hours.
Fellow North American Frances Tiafoe dispatched teenaged Chinese qualifier Shang Juncheng 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
Auger-Aliassime said he got off to a late start in what turned into a major comeback.
“As long as I’m on the court I try to find a way to win and to give myself chances and to stay longer,” he said. “Today I was able to do it again.
“Of course you need to be fortunate that the opponent doesn’t play too well or the match will pass you by.
“Normally, when you are down 2-0 you don’t win without some luck.”
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
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