ATP Australian Open: Rafael Nadal survives third set to stay alive vs. Dominic Thiem

After three hours, the drama is heating up at Rod Laver Arena, as Rafael Nadal claimed the third set versus Dominic Thiem 6-4, reducing the deficit to two sets to one and staying alive in the battle for the place in the semis. The Spaniard lost only four points on serve and grabbed a late break to keep his chances of reaching the next round and staying on the ATP throne on Monday. With no room for errors, Rafa held at 15 in the first game of the third set before Dominic landed an ace to level the score at 1-1. The Spaniard served well in the third game as well, overpowered in the next game as Thiem stayed strong behind the initial shot to follow the rival's pace.

An ace sent Rafa 3-2 up, producing three great holds so far in the third set that Dominic followed with another service game where he managed to overpower the rival from the baseline. There was no drama in the seventh game either, with Nadal holding at 15 thanks to a backhand error from Thiem, with the Spaniard having the upper hand in the shortest rallies so far and the Austrian who ruled in the more extended ones. Dominic forced an error from Rafa in the eighth game, leveling the score at 4-4 after only seven points for the returners so far in the third set.

A forehand winner in the ninth game delivered another comfortable hold for Nadal who forced Thiem to serve for staying in the set in the game that followed. Feeling the pressure, the Austrian netted an easy backhand to fall 40-15 behind, fending off the first set point with a service winner before placing another backhand into the net to hand the set to Nadal in just under three hours. 

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2O6o8Ro