MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal’s body withstood its toughest test yet at the Madrid Open as he needed three sets and more than three hours to get past 91st-ranked Pedro Cachin on Monday.
Nadal didn’t show any signs of physical limitations as he won 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 to make it to the round of 16 at the clay-court tournament where he is the record five-time champion. He will next face 31st-ranked Jiri Lehecka.
“I took more risks in the third set, but it’s hard after so many months without competing,” Nadal said. “I hadn’t played a match like this in a long time. Let’s see how it goes tomorrow. I don’t know how I’m going to wake up. But I’m already happy for having won three matches in a row.”
The 37-year-old Nadal is trying to get in shape for next month’s French Open. Since his latest injury layoff, he’s had two matches in Barcelona and was pessimistic about his physical condition after arriving in Madrid. But he’s won three more times in the capital.
Why US Catholics are planning pilgrimages in communities across the nation
Rory McIlroy dealing with another distraction on eve of PGA Championship
Edmunds: The five things you need to know before buying your first used Tesla
Tyson Fury is thuggish, boorish and entitled. His head
Red Lobster seeks bankruptcy protection after closing some restaurants
Yemeni security forces deploy in Aden as anger simmers over lengthy power outages
Opening statements to kick off in Sen. Bob Menendez's criminal trial
Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
Ant McPartlin's baby name meaning revealed and Wilder Patrick includes a heart
Biden says Brown v. Board of Education ruling was about more than education
Trevor Rogers and the Marlins bullpen shut out the Tigers for the second straight day in a 2