ATP Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal topples Diego Schwartzman to reach R16
The 2nd seed and three-time Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal has stayed on the course for the first title in the desert since 2013 following a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over his good friend Diego Schwartzman in an hour and 15 minutes. Rafa and Diego faced for the seventh time and the Spaniard grabbed the seventh win to reach the last 16, dominating on both serve and return to leave the rival far behind and march into the next round. Nadal lost ten points behind the initial shot, never facing a break point and mounting the pressure on the other side of the net to steal half of the return points and secure four breaks from six opportunities he earned.
Despite hitting 14 winners and 17 unforced errors, Rafa was the dominant factor on the court and left Diego on four winners and 21 unforced errors, having the upper hand in the shortest and mid-range rallies to march towards the finish line and the second rock-solid win in the desert so far. Rafa hit the zone right from the start and needed some time to make some damage on the return, breaking for the first time in game eight when Diego netted a backhand and sealing the opener with a hold at 15 in the following game for a 6-3 after 40 minutes.
Carried by this momentum, Nadal broke at the start of the second set after forcing an error from the Argentinian, moving 3-0 up after another backhand mistake from Schwarzman who drifted further and further away from the positive result. Maintaining a high level throughout the match, Nadal clinched the win with another break at 15 in game seven when Diego sent a backhand long, setting the fourth round clash against Filip Krajinovic. Following a tough loss to Nick Kyrgios in Acapulco, Rafa is hoping for the second big result of the season after reaching the final at the Australian Open.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2TOlfIU
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