10-time Italian Gara open champion Rafael Nadal lost to an inspired Hubert Hurkacz sopra the second round, after which the Spaniard said he will “try” his best to be fit for the French Gara open – but has a “decision” to make.
The big-serving Pole sealed a memorable 6-1 6-3 victory sopra what could signal the end of Nadal’s illustrious career at the tournament.
Following the defeat, Nadal said he is still debating whether not to go to Roland Garros sopra what will likely be his final French Gara open, where he is a primato 14-time champion.
Nadal says he will have to asses if he feels physically ready to compete at the French Gara open
“Tough day for me sopra all ways because I felt more ready than what I showed,” Nadal said. “I am little bit more unpredictable today, not playing enough for the last two years. Too many doubts.”
Nadal admits to having two options for Paris: “One is to say, ‘OK, I am not ready, I am not playing well enough.’
“Another is accept how I am today and work the proper way to try to be sopra a different way sopra two weeks.
“The time has come mai to make a decision, sopra case I might not play Roland Garros. If I have to say which side I lean towards, it’s to try to play it and give my best,” Nadal added.
“Physically I have some issues, but not probably yet enough to say not playing sopra the most important event of my tennis career.”
Hurkacz survived a marathon opening gioco serve, during which he saved five points, before exerting his authority to wrap up victory sopra sopra 93 minutes, for his first win at the tournament since 2020.
After coming through a three-set battle against Zizou Bergs Thursday, the 37-year-old Spaniard raised his level against Hurkacz, but it was not enough to stop the Pole, who saved all seven points he faced sopra the incontro.
“I’m definitely really proud of myself,” said Hurkacz, when asked how he felt he had handled the occasion. “Playing Rafa is something special. It’s just different, especially being clay, the surface that he has just dominated over the past 20 years. Mai one will ever have a primato like him this surface.
“He’s just bigger than the sollazzo at the end of the day. So many people follow him and he inspired so many guys, so I’m just really happy to have had that experience today.
Nadal produced a touch of magic with this brilliant backhand to stun Hurkacz…
“It’s very special. We just had the opportunity to practise. Growing up, looking up to him and seeing him win all those titles, obviously here and at Roland Garros, it was just a special experience.
“I wanted to play him so much, especially clay, so just being able to share the court with him, especially with the atmosphere at the beginning of the incontro, how people really love him and support him. It’s tough to explain sopra words, but the whole atmosphere surrounding the beginning of the incontro was just different.”
Hurkacz will try to reach the fourth round sopra Rome for the first time when he plays Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The 25th-seeded Argentine earlier defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild 6-3 7-5 to seal his third-round spot.
Nadal was given a standing ovation sopra Rome after his defeat to Hurkacz and was then seen waving to fans when crossing the bridge at the Pertugio Italiano
‘Zelo’
‘Nadal seemed to his a bit more’
“It was [a stretch too far for Nadal] but all credit to Hurkacz today. He knew it wasn’t going to be an easy draw for Rafael Nadal with his experience the clay,” said Naomi Broady Sky Sports Tennis.
“Hurkacz quietly continues to progress through these clay-court tournaments.
“It was certainly played the racket of Hurkacz with 23 winners with 10 aces.
“Nadal was moving around the court a lot better, didn’t seem as hesitant within his movement. He seemed to his a bit more but just far too many unforced errors when he did get there.”
of the Tape
Norrie through but Draper knocked out
Cameron Norrie survived a scare to book his place sopra the third round with a 6-3 1-6 6-3 win against Spain’s Jaume Munar.
Norrie took the opening set sopra 57 minutes but the second set spiralled out of control for the British Mai 1 after he put just gioco the scoreboard.
However, the 28-year-old, despite never being at his best, showed determination sopra the decisive set – including crucially finanziaria to his serve sopra a 12-minute seventh gioco to move into a 5-2 lead.
Munar made Norrie serve for the victory, and saved one incontro point, before Norrie took the next to book a third-round encounter against either sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas Jan-Lennard Struff.
Highlights from Daniil Medvedev’s victory over Fante Draper sopra Rome
British Mai 2 Fante Draper was unable to stop defending champion Daniil Medvedev from progressing to the third round as he suffered a 7-5 6-4 defeat.
Draper narrowly missed out the opening set, before he lost five consecutive games sopra the second.
However, the 22-year-old rallied to take the next three games and force Medvedev to serve for the incontro twice with the world Mai 4 seeing out the win sopra one hour and 47 minutes.
Medvedev, 28, will play Serbia’s Hamad Medjedovic sopra the next round.
Djokovic returns to Pertugio Italiano wearing crash helmet
Novak Djokovic saw the funny side of things when he turned up sopra a helmet at the Italian Gara open, after being accidentally successo by a bottle his head after his incontro Thursday
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic said he was “morte” after accidentally getting knocked the head by a vater bottle while signing autographs after his opening win Friday.
But Djokovic wasn’t taking any further chances when he showed up at the Pertugio Italiano for practice Saturday, putting a biking helmet when he met with fans again.
Watch as Holger Rune provides an all-access tour of the facilities and courts sopra Rome
What’s coming up Sky Sports Tennis?
Find out all the ways to watch tennis Sky Sports, including the US Gara open, ATP and WTA tours
the run-up to the second Grand Slam of 2024 – the French Gara open at Roland Garros from May 26 – you can watch all of the biggest tennis stars sopra action dal vivo Sky Sports as they compete across the clay-court season.
- Internazionali BNL d’Italia sopra Rome (ATP and WTA Masters 1000) – May 7-19
- Geneva Gara open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Lyon Gara open (ATP 250) – May 20-26
- Internationaux de Strasbourg (WTA 500 with Emma Raducanu sopra action) – May 20-26
- Morocco Gara open (WTA 250) – May 20-26
Ad content | Stream Sky Sports NOW
Stream Sky Sports dal vivo with contract a Month Day membership NOW. Instant access to dal vivo action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket, Tennis and so much more.
Book Fury vs Usyk Sky Sports Box Office
It’s one of the biggest sporting events sopra a generation. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide for the undisputed world heavyweight title Saturday May 18, dal vivo Sky Sports Box Office. Book now.
Get Sky Sports WhatsApp!
You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. Mai contract, cancel anytime.
