Speed Post News Network
Patna : Nine-time champion & 2nd seed Rafael Nadal, 34, Spain, beat World No 47 Reilly Opelka, 23, USA, in straight sets in semi-finals on May 15, 2021, night, to reach the men’s singles final of Italian Open, an ATP Masters 1,000 clay court tournament, at Foro Italico, Rome, Italy.
World No 3 Nadal, who first won the Italian Open title in 2005 and the last in 2019, beat Opelka 6-4, 6-4 in semi-finals in 1hr 32 minutes winning 2 break points and 3 games in a row during the match. It will be Nadal’s 12th appearance in Italian Open Final.
Opelka, who is known for his huge serves, hammered 11 Aces during the match to 5 Nadal. The Spainiard, in all, won 63 points during the match to 55 by Opelka. Both the players committed 1 double fault each in the match. It was Opelka’s first appearance in an ATP Master 1,000 event.