MADRID: Rafael Nadal avenged his defeat to Alex de Minaur from Barcelona with a 7-6 (8-6), 6-3 victory over the Australian on Saturday to extend his stay in Madrid on his final appearance at his home tournament but admitted he still “needs time” to return to his competitive peak.

Nadal’s farewell tour has pitted him against De Minaur twice in as many weeks but this time the result was reversed as the 22-time Grand Slam champion advanced to a third-round meeting with Argentina’s Pedro Cachin.

Nadal dug deep to dismiss the world number 11, despite admitting ahead of the tournament he was still struggling with numerous physical issues.

It was an impressive performance from the 37-year-old but he immediately dismissed the idea it was anywhere near his vintage form.

“No, not yet. It needs time,” said Nadal on court.

Five-time Madrid champion Nadal said he will not make a decision on playing at the French Open until after Rome which starts next week, and explained the key factor that would determine his participation.

Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a surprise second round exit at the hands of world number 118 Thiago Monteiro.

Tsitsipas lost 6-4, 6-4 to the Brazilian qualifier in just over 90 minutes.

Top seed Jannik Sinner extended his unbeaten record against fellow Italians to 13-0 by defeating his Davis Cup teammate Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3 in just 69 minutes.

Third seed Daniil Medvedev beat Italian Matteo Arnaldi 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 On women’s side, Iga Swiatek eased past Romanian Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 to book a fourth-round meeting with Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Ons Jabeur, the eighth seed, overcame Canada’s Leylah Fernandez 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 to reach the last 16.

Coco Gauff of the US completed a 6-4, 6-1 win against Ukrainian Dayana Yastremska.

In other matches, fifth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece outplayed Sloane Stephens of the US 6-1, 6-3, Madison Keys, also of the US, routed Russia’s Liudmila Samsonova 6-2, 6-3 and Latvia’s Jelena Ostapenko crushed Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina 6-3, 6-3.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2024