Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal wasted little time in booking his place in the Wimbledon fourth round for Saturday, racing past Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

"He's a complete player with a lot of great things, and I need to keep going the way that I played today: playing aggressive and playing with the right energy. Nadal flew out of the blocks against Sonego in their first ATP Head2Head meeting, pulling the Italian from corner to corner with his heavy forehand. With Nadal leading 4-2, the roof was closed due to fading light. With his foot on the gas, Nadal continued to dictate in the third set, flattening out his backhand to cause Sonego more trouble. "It was probably my best match without a doubt here at The Championships against the most difficult player I have faced yet,” Nadal said in his on-court interview. The 36-year-old blasted the ball past Sonego from all angles, while demonstrating deft touches at the net to advance after two hours and four minutes.

Rafael Nadal made light work of Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to keep his bid for a third Wimbledon title well and truly on track.

Nobody is betting against a 60th meeting between the 35-year-old Serb and his old Spanish friend in the final here next weekend. It will be immensely difficult on the fast-wearing Wimbledon grass, where he has won only twice, in 2008 and 2010 – and he was out for four months last year hobbling into the Australian Open in January unsure if he could even finish the fortnight. Nadal did not hide his frustration before breaking back and serving out the match in a little over two hours.

Rafael Nadal apologised to opponent Lorenzo Sonego after a heated discussion at the net following the Spaniard's three-set Centre Court win.

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The 22-time Grand Slam champion beat the Italian player on Centre Court. "It's been my best match at the championship so far, against the most difficult player ...

I should not call him on the net," Nadal said after the match. After that, there are other things during the match I do not what to comment as we have talked in the locker room. "So I apologize for that. And then exchanged further words after Nadal served out the match. "It's been my best match at the championship so far, against the most difficult player I've faced at this level," Nadal told the crowd after the match. I have to say I was wrong.

'Never seen that before': Nadal scolds rival as heated Wimbledon match takes 'bizarre' turn.

“For me it’s one of the biggest challenges to play Petra on grass,” said 24-year-old Badosa. “I have no words right now,” she said. “In France good wine always ages well, that’s what’s happened to me. I did it in a nice way but I feel really bad now if I bothered him. “I’m kind of aware that this could happen,” she said. That’s it - I will talk to him after but this is not a problem.” “I didn’t make it in a negative way. “As a solid player, she used that pretty well. Bizarre end to the match.” “I was pretty confused about my tactics. Second seed Nadal, the champion in 2008 and 2010, swept to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win. But maybe it was wrong.”

Lorenzo Sonego was angry with Nadal after losing to him in straight sets in round-three action at Wimbledon, saying the Spaniard had no right to summon him ...

'Who the heck does he think he is to tell Sonego to stop grunting? 'My intention was never to bother him at all. This Rafa guy is so full of himself, but I'm supposed to believe he's humble? 'I have to say that I was wrong. I recognise that. 'So I apologise for that.

Rafael Nadal, the reigning Australian Open and French Open champion, remains on course for the Calendar Slam as he pursues a third Wimbledon title - and ...

After the win, Nadal said: “Not spicy at all - I just from the bottom of my heart I didn't make it in a negative way I feel sorry if I bothered him but I did it in a right way. It gave the Italian hope, but Nadal remained ruthless to burn to a 3-0 lead in the third set. The bone of contention came as Nadal thought Sonego made a sound before actually striking the ball. Nadal then turned up the heat in what was truly a set to forget for Sonego as he raced into a 4-0 lead. Nadal started brightly, winning his first two service games to love before he secured the break. However, the third round clash against his Italian opponent saw Nadal kick his game up a gear.

The Spaniard made it to the second week after a routine straight-sets win, but the match was overshadowed by their long dialogue at the net late in the ...

Just to tell (him) one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that’s it. “I have to say that I was wrong. I apologise for that. I should not (have) called him to the net. That ticking off was followed up by another lengthy exchange at the net once Nadal had wrapped up the win, with a visibly upset Sonego trying to understand exactly what he had done wrong. Playing Rafael Nadal on clay is considered to be one of the most frustrating challenges in tennis.

The highest seed left in Nadal's side of the Wimbledon draw is Taylor Fritz, although Nick Kyrgios could be a potential semi-final opponent.

“I did a lot of things much better than the previous days. “He didn’t play so many matches on grass the last couple of years. I should not call him on the net, so I apologise for that. He added in his press conference: “I have to say that I was wrong. “I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. I feel really bad now if I bothered him so I feel sorry for that.

The Spaniard voiced his displeasure at the net with the Italian during the third set of their third-round match on Centre Court.

“My intention was never to bother him at all. “Then after that, all the stuff during the match that I don’t want to comment, because is something that I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. I apologize for that.

Rafael Nadal has sent a message to his great rival Roger Federer, as the Spaniard caused a storm during his third round victory over Lorenzo Sonego.

He went on: “We can't create a story just about Wimbledon. I think Roger Federer is important in every single tournament. This then led to the roof being closed, which left Nadal frustrated after being keen to get the job done. The Spanish star did however then re-composed himself by winning the final two games to secure a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

RAFAEL NADAL was locked in an odd exchange at the end of his win over Lorenzo Sonego as he spoke to the Italian at the net.

After the win, Nadal said: “Not spicy at all - I just from the bottom of my heart I didn't make it in a negative way I feel sorry if I bothered him but I did it in a right way. That's it - I will talk to him after but this is not a problem.” Nadal defeated Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4 to secure his first straight sets win of this year’s Championships after having dropped a set in each of his first two matches.

His message comes less than a month after Sainz branded Nadal the “best” tennis player following his record-extending 14th French Open and 22nd Grand Slam title ...

I recognise that.” The tennis icon himself is also in the country for Wimbledon, where he will play his fourth-round match on Monday. Nadal quickly apologised in his post-match press conference as he said: ”Well, first of all, I have to say that I was wrong.

He reached the semi-finals at Queen's and has swatted aside Feliciano Lopez, Emil Ruusuvuori and two-time semi-finalist Richard Gasquet in the last few days.

“That final against Federer in 2008 was one of the greatest matches of tennis ever, I’d have been at school when that was played but I remember watching it and it was insane. “Growing up he was a special player to me and I was very nervous playing him in Paris, that experience will help me here. “I think maybe I can hurt him on the grass courts here,” he added.

Rafael Nadal looks to follow his "best match since the tournament started" with another strong performance in the Wimbledon fourth round against Botic van ...

Nakashima, playing in his second Wimbledon, is through to the fourth round for the first time in his sixth main-draw major appearance. Most of Garin's best results have come on clay, but he is through to the Wimbledon fourth round for the second straight year. He also reached the Roland Garros third round this year before falling to eventual semi-finalist Alexander Zverev in his best previous major showing. Fritz has quietly cruised into the fourth round to match his best major result. De Minaur will be relieved to face a man who does not hail from Great Britain after battling past home favourites Jack Draper and Liam Broady in his past two matches. Asked if he felt he could win his first Grand Slam singles title this week, he answered in the affirmative. "Nakashima won easily today in straight sets," Kyrgios said of the American's dominant third-round win against Daniel Elahi Galan. "To do that at Wimbledon on grass is not easy. "He's a player that has been improving unbelievably [in] the last year," the Spaniard said of his opponent. I made a lot of things much better than previous days: the determination, the way that I managed to play more aggressive, going to the net plenty of times." Of course he's winning the first few rounds. Nadal dismissed him at the French with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory. "It was a good challenge at the French... He's a complete player with a lot of great things, and I need to keep going the way that I played today.

As Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas were battling in what the Greek would refer to as a circus on Saturday, another controversial moment happened on ...

Where is the line that the things are done the proper way or the negative way? Asked about to explain the code between players that he referred to, Nadal couldn’t give a proper explanation. Just to tell one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that’s it. The only thing I can say is that I saw him personally. The Spaniard added: ” All the stuff during the match that I don’t want to comment, because it is something that I spoke with him in the locker room. Anyway Nadal started his conference by way of an apology.

Rafael Nadal has won seven consecutive sets to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals. © Shaun Botterill/Getty Images. ATP Staff Jul 04, 2022.

"It's going to be a tough match, but we are in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon so what can I expect?" The second relied more on touch than power and resulted in a lawnmower celebration from the Spaniard, who repeatedly pumped his fist. Against van de Zandschulp, the Spaniard failed to serve out the match at 5-3 and led 6/3 in the third-set tie-break before claiming victory on his fourth match point when an overhead flew just wide.

Rafa Nadal, who has won the first two legs of the calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career, moved into the Wimbledon quarterfinals by beating No ...

He said he played through the French Open because he received multiple anaesthetic injections during the tournament. Kyrgios next faces Cristian Garin of Chile in the quarters. Nadal and Fritz are 1-1 head-to-head, with the American beating a compromised Nadal in the Indian Wells final in March when Nadal was bothered by a cracked rib. He should get a stiff test from No. 10 Jannik Sinner on Tuesday after the Italian handled No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz in four sets Sunday. He has yet to drop a set in the fortnight. He will next face American Taylor Fritz on Wednesday after Fritz advanced to his first career quarterfinal.

Lorenzo Sonego has clearly not fully forgiven Rafael Nadal after their spat on Centre Court last weekend, insisting the Spaniard "distracted me".

"Just to tell one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that's it. "Probably I will not -- I should not call him on the net. It's a rare occasion for anyone to get under his skin, but Sonego did just that and Nadal called his opponent to the net to request he tones down his grunts during points. "Well, first of all, I have to say that I was wrong," he said. I apologise for that. Nadal came out on top with ease, winning 6-1 6-2 6-4, but there was a brief moment in the second set which grabbed the attentions of everyone.

Rafael Nadal survived a late fightback to move into the quarter-finals at Wimbledon following a straight sets win over Botic van de Zandschulp.

Wimbledon "Until the end when I played a bad game at 5-2 when it had been a very positive match. Wimbledon

From four-set wins in his opening two rounds, Nadal has followed that up with two victories in straight sets – up next, though, a man who hasn't dropped a ...

It’s going to be a tough match, but we’re in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon so what can I expect,” Nadal added. A slip added to Nadal’s woes, particularly with it coming when he would have rather been back in the changing room. “He’s playing well.

Spaniard eased to a 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6) victory and set up a quarter-final clash with his conquerer at Indian Wells in March, Taylor Fritz.

Taylor Fritz, the 11th seed, is yet to drop a set in this tournament, reaching his first career grand slam quarter-final by defeating Jason Kubler 6-3, 6-1, 6-4. But Nadal and Djokovic are still here, rolling through the draw, determined to write another page in the sport’s history books. None of those improvements served him particularly well in the face of the pressure and intensity from Nadal early on. On Monday, Nadal was extremely efficient against a challenging opponent until nerves struck as he served for the match, but he pulled himself together to seal the win. “I think, till the end, until I played a bad game at 5-3, it has been a very positive match against a difficult opponent. He reached the quarter‑finals with his 18th grand slam match win in a row after a high‑class performance, outplaying Botic van de Zandschulp, the 21st seed, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6).

No. 2 Rafael Nadal clinched a spot in the Wimbledon 2022 quarterfinals after a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (6) win over No. 21 Botic van de Zandschulp.

#CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/YpQxGtEB0v One @RafaelNadal. #Wimbledon Vamos! 💥 @RafaelNadal snags the first set over van de Zandschulp, 6-4. Fans are also likely looking ahead to a dream final between him and No. 1 Novak Djokovic. He’s held serve well at times in this match, so he can fancy his chances in this set. Rafa rolls into the quarter-finals 💪

The Spaniard secures a straight sets victory over Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6)#Wimbledon The No. 2 seed was cruising at this point. Zandschulp goes from 40-love down to break Nadal’s serve in the first game of Set 3. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/zKZ1cOXQeM It took until the 10th game for Nadal to finally gain an advantage, breaking his opponent to win the set 6-4. Beating Nadal on grass usually means hitting him off the court. @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/Sq0SovkdoB

Rafael Nadal marched into his eighth Wimbledon quarter-final where he will meet Taylor Fritz, while 2019 winner Simona Halep made a ruthless return to ...

It's a pleasure to be back here." So that's why it means a lot for me to be in the quarter-finals." "Sometimes I am tired about myself, all the issues that I am having. "Part of the final eight and... "I am a little bit tired to talk about my body," Nadal said. He then needed radio-wave treatment on a nerve in his left foot last month to make it to SW19, but constant talk of his fitness is wearing down the 22-time major champion.