Rafa Nadal continues to defy all kinds of logic every time he jumps onto a court. The tennis player with the most Grand Slams in history pulled epic to come back and beat Korda (6-2, 1-6 and 7-6) in his debut in Indian Wells in a sublime match. The Spaniard was down 2-5 in the third set and managed to turn the score around in a Homeric way after making two breaks. He will face Evans in the third round. He adds his sixteenth victory in the 16 games he has played in 2022. Major words.
After confirming his resignation from Miami in order to prepare the clay season in the best possible way, Rafa Nadal jumped to the Indian Wells center to debut in the tournament against Sebastian Korda. The Spaniard stepped onto the court with an unblemished record of 15 wins and zero losses in 2022. A few figures that have earned him the title of the best tennis player of all time in Australia as well as winning the Melbourne and Acapulco tournaments.
So, brimming with confidence, Rafa Nadal faced Sebastian Korda in a first match of the tournament that was less dangerous. But not even five minutes had passed and the Spanish tennis player had already broken his rival’s serve. This intimidated the 21-year-old tennis player and Nadal smelled the blood. The Spaniard consolidated his serve and broke again to get the first set back on track with a clear 3-0. Finally he closed it with a 6-2 and after saving a break ball from Korda, who ended up making up the first set.
Everything indicated a path to roses towards the final victory but Korda spiced up the match after breaking Nadal ‘s serve in the second game. The 3-0 against forced the Spanish tennis player to come back. And this time there was no miracle because the best version of the American came out, playing perfect tennis to close the set 6-1. The Balearic was going to have to sweat not to suffer his first defeat of the season.
Nadal managed to save his serve the first two times in the third set but the third time was the charm and Korda broke his serve. The 21-year-old was embroidering tennis and had the match in his hand. With 2-4, the one from Bradenton broke again. Nadal needed a miracle… and it came. The Spaniard twice broke Korda’s serve and ended up achieving a miraculous tie-break victory in his debut in Indian Wells.
You have done it again @RafaelNadal.
You have turned an ordinary day into a day to remember.
FATHER pic.twitter.com/DXRQR1hG22– Tennis in Movistar Plus + (@MovistarTenis) March 12, 2022
Alcaraz goes round
Carlos Alcaraz will also be in the third round after beating Mackenzie McDonald by a double 6-3. The Murcian tennis player once again showed that he is going through a great moment of form and will face the winner of the duel between Bautista and Wolf in the next round.
Inexhaustible repertoire 🔥
🇺🇸 @alcarazcarlos03 | @BNPPARIBASOPEN
pic.twitter.com/OsXQuJvJ0R
– ATP Tour in Spanish (@ATPTour_ES) March 12, 2022
