Nadal, Schwartzman enter QF of French Open

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 1 in ATP rankings and 10 times champion Rafael Nadal, 32, Spain, and World No 12  Diego Schwartzman, 25, Argentina, entered the quarter-finals of French Open 2018 on June 4, 2018, though in contrasting style. Nadal defeated his World No 70 German opponent Maxmilian Marterer, 22, in straight sets on Philippe Chatrier court, Roland Garros, Paris, while Schwartzman defeated World No 7 Kevin Anderson, 32, South Africa, in a five-set marathon on Suzanne Lenglen Court in the Round of 16.

Nadal beat fast rising German tennis player Marterer 6-3, 6-2, 7-6. Marterer though suprised Nadal by breaking his serve in the opening game of the first set and then held his own to lead 2-0. Nadal soon broke back to make it 2-2 and thereafter he was all over the German player in both first and second set. Marterer broke Nadal’s service again in third set. But, Nadal broke back to make it 3-3. The third set went to tie- break which Nadal won comfortably. There was a 21 stroke rally on one point in the tie-break.

Both Nadal and Marterer committed 3 double faults each in the match. Nadal, however, served 4 Aces compared to 2 by Marterer. Nadal also won 5 break points while Marterer won only 2. Nadal won 5 games in a row in the match while Marterer won 2 games in a row. Nadal’s winning percentage on both first and second serve was better than that of Marterer. Before the match, Nadal had described Marterer as a good player and a dangerous opponent. It was first meeting between the two players.

Schwartzman beat Anderson, the 2017 US Open finalist,  1-6, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 even as Anderson served 19 Aces during the match. Schwartzman fired only 2 Aces. Both the players committed 8 double faults each in the match.  Schwartzman won 9 break points while Anderson won 10 break points. Anderson also won 6 games in a row compared to 4 by Schwartzman. Schwartzman’s first serve percentage better than that of Anderson, who won the first two sets easily but lost the next three.

At one stage during the match, Schwartzman complained to chair umpire about the way Anderson was conducting himself.