Rafa Nadal destroys the giant Opelka to get into the final in Rome

Rafa Nadal gave a masterful lesson to the giant Reilly Opelka, playing one of his most serious games and focused on serving in remembrance. The man from Manacor faced the American – 2.11 meters tall – for the first time in his career in a match that could have been much more complicated than what the scoreboard ended up reflecting and in which he won by a double 6-4. Opelka appeared full. confidence in the center court of the Foro Italico after having finished a fantastic week beating Gasquet, Musetti, Karatsev and Delbonis on the way after having accumulated a total of 77 aces in those games. Nadal knew perfectly what he was going to find, but he had to take his pulse before the giant became a colossus. The fourth and fifth games of the first set were fundamental to build the definitive triumph of a Nadal who used the first sets to study to an opponent who did not want long points, who hit Del Potro-style flat and who had reduced mobility. Rafa, despite everything, brushed the abyss against a guy who rarely loses serve in the fourth game. Opelka had up to four break balls that Nadal solved with a weapon that his followers are not used to: the serve. The first cuts entered like daggers into the heart of the North American giant. Crouching his back was not his thing. Nadal smelled the blood and immediately after saving himself from a break that almost meant his defeat in the first set, he launched a deadly attack against his rival who did not see the blows of the Spanish coming. The quality from the bottom and its ability to control 230 km / h services demoralized an Opelka that was even about to give up its service again in that first round that ended with a 6-4 favorable to the Balearic Islands.Opelka tried to reset in the second set. He looked for more backcourt play and fewer punches at the first change. Nadal was delighted with the proposal of his rival, which he broke again in the third game of the second set. The Spaniard then activated the effort-saving mode against a well-trained opponent who will be a notable player for years to come. Nadal barely suffered in the semifinal in Rome and returns to a final to try to increase his record to 10 titles in the Italian capital. In 2019, Rafa beat Djokovic in a final that spurred him to a new Roland Garros title. The number three in the world hopes to continue writing golden chapters in its history with the Foro Italico.