Speed Post News Network
Patna : Second seed and nine time champion Rafael Nadal, 34, Spain, crushed compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta, 6-1, 6-1 to march into men’s singles Round of 16 at Italian Open 2020 at Foro Italico, Rome, Italy, on September 16, 2020, late night, winning 5 break points and six games in a row. Busta, 29, had reached semi-finals of US Open last week. He had lost to Alexander Zverev, 23 Germany, in five-sets in US Open SFs.
Nadal, the winner of 19 Grand Slam singles titles, won 63 points in the match to 32 by Busta. His winning percentage on both his first and second serve ( 79 % & 89 %) was much higher than that of Busta’s ( 46 % 7 36 %). Nadal served 2 Aces in the match. He committed two double faults to 1 by Busta. Nadal has returned to tennis court after six months lay off due to COVID-19. He did not defend his US Open title this year.
Filip Krajinovic, 28, Serbia, defeated Marco Cecchinato, 27, Italy,a qualifier, 6-4, 6-1 to enter Round of 16 winning 4 break points and 6 games in a row. Krajinovic won 65 points to 43 by Cecchinato. Krajinovic will face top seed and World No 1 Novak Djokovic in Round of 16 on September 18, 2020.