Rome Tournament | Nadal defeats Shapovalov, Agar-Aliassim eliminated

The Canadian Press

The score and length of the match illustrate how hard Nadal struggled to reach the next round on his favorite surface.

To win, Nadal had to erase a 0-3 decline in the second set and take a break in service in the decisive set. He also saved two match points in the 12th^E This is the game of the third set, in his serve.

In the decisive tiebreaker, Nadal split from Shapovalov with back-to-back mini-breaks to take a 4-1 lead. He confirmed victory on his second match point when the Canadian sent the backhand into the net.

Shapovalov, 14^E The world player is not only hoping to beat Nadal for the second time in his career, but after an unforgettable victory on the rough surface of Uniprix Stadium in 2017, he is only trying to become the third left-hander to beat the legendary Spaniard on clay.

Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, in 2012 – on the blue surface, and the following year only Argentina Horacio Zebalos achieved this feat. Nadal won the remaining 52 games.

Nadal has now won his last 19 duels against the Left, with Shapovalov the last man to beat him.

Despite performing simultaneously in another round of 16, the same level of play was not provided, with Quebec Felix Agar-Aliassim beating Argentina Federico Delbonis 7-6 (3), 6-1.

Two days after a stellar performance against Diego Schwartzman, Ager-Aliasim, 21^E The world player, having two aces, committed six double errors and conceded three break points to his opponent on seven attempts.

In the tiebreaker, Delbonis scored six points in a row after accepting the first in the game.

Delbonis, 64^E The world player won the first five games, including two in the Quebec service, and started the second round.

Wonderful start

Against Nadal, Shapovalov won the first four games and 16 of the first 21 points to get off to a flying start.

He scored nine points in a row between the first and third games, including two games in which the Spaniard worked.

Nadal returned to the game after winning three games in a row, including the first break in the sixth game.

The Canadian picked up Nadal’s um by winning his serve in the eighth game and breaking the third face-off in the next game, using his fourth set point when Nadal sent the backhand into the middle of the net.

This is the first set won by Shadowalov Nadal since his stunning victory in Montreal in 2017.

The Canadian continued his pace by winning the first three games of the second set, including a break in the second game.

Nadal withdrew the series in the fourth game, but began to really recover in the next game, as he was able to break Shapovalov’s serve as Shapovalov led 40-0.

Nadal dominated the next three games and eventually had to manage the final round in his service.

Shapovalov was the first man to take the lead in the decisive set with a break in the fourth game. Nadal did not waste time changing him, however, taking a break in the next game.

Ends with this amazing dual tiebreaker.