The Spaniard held at 15 in the 11th game and created three set points at 6-5 after the Norwegian's mistakes. He saved it after Ruud's mistake and denied the second with a service winner for a massive hold. Nadal netted a routine forehand in the ninth game and experienced a break point. Both players served well in the early stages and reached 4-4 in 32 minutes. Nadal had the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced exchanges, firing 37 winners and 16 unforced errors and playing his best match in months. Casper faced three break points and got broken in the closing stages of each set to finish the round-robin action with a 2-1 score and advance into the last four for the second straight year. Rafa used the fast indoor court to blast 16 aces (five in a row, probably for the first time in a career), dropping only 11 points behind the initial shot and saving two break points. Eager to end the losing streak and gain some momentum ahead of 2023, the Spaniard prevailed over the Norwegian 7-5, 7-5 in an hour and 42 minutes. Rafa fell to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime at the ATP Finals before facing Casper Ruud in the season's last encounter. Rafael Nadal defeated Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |