Rafael Nadal thrashes Feliciano Lopez in the third round of Internazionali BNL d’Italia
World number 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain cruised past his inform compatriot Feliciano Lopez, ranked 40th in the world, in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in the third round of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia at Foro Italico in Rome
of Thursday. The Spaniard took just an hour and 16 minutes to oust his opponent in a one–sided clash.
Nadal took the early lead as he broke Lopez in the second game of the opening set, blazing forward to a 3-0 lead. However, Lopez was in no mood to surrender as he broke back in the seventh game and held his serve in the next game
to level the score at 4-4. But, after that it was all Nadal show as the Spaniard clinched eight straight points, breaking Lopez in the tenth game and winning the set 6-4.
Nadal fired two aces and a staggering 95 percent of the first serves in the opening set, claiming 81 percent of the points on them. In comparison, Lopez managed to hit 75 percent of the first deliveries, capturing just 57 percent
of the points on them. The Spaniard was unable to respond to Nadal’s fiery serves as he won a mere 19 percent of the first return points in the opening set. Lopez converted one of the two break points on Nadal’s serve but failed to save two of the three break
points on his own serve in the first set.
In the second set, both players held their serve in the first four games to equalize the score at 2-2. After that, Nadal captured four straight games, breaking Lopez in the sixth and eighth game to seal the set 6-2.
Nadal delivered a single ace and kept his first serve percentage at 79 percent, grabbing 80 percent of the points on them in the second set. On the other hand, Lopez suffered because of his lower first serve percentage, hitting
59 percent of the first serves and bagging just 53 percent of the points on them. Nadal did not face any break point and capitalized on two of the three break point opportunities he created in the second set.
In his last match, Nadal looked weary and was stretched to three sets by qualifier Paolo Lorenzi of Italy, winning a tough second round match 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-0.
Talking to the reporters after his match against Lopez, Nadal said, "I had a fever this morning but I feel better now. Certainly I didn't really understand why yesterday I felt slow and without energy and I understand now better
today.”
The Spaniard added, “That is that and I am here to fight and to try my best like I have always done. I am ready for everything."
Nadal will take on Croatian Marin Cilic, ranked 23rd in the world, in the quarterfinals.
Tags: