Rafael Nadal has reached the last 16 of the Madrid Open after a grueling three-hour match against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin. The 37-year-old Spaniard, playing on his home turf for the final time, secured a 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 victory.
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Nadal, a five-time champion in Madrid, is expected to retire at the end of this season, making this tournament a sentimental farewell. He will face 30th seed Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic on Tuesday for a quarter-final spot.
Meanwhile, Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie was eliminated by fifth seed Casper Ruud in straight sets, 6-2 6-4. Ruud, fresh from his Barcelona victory last week, will face Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the next round.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev also advanced after coming from a set down to defeat America’s Sebastian Korda 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. Italian top seed Jannik Sinner, the Australian Open champion, will face Pavel Kotov of Russia on Tuesday evening as he pursues his fourth title of 2024.
As the Madrid Open heats up, Nadal’s quest for a final hurrah on his beloved clay court continues. Will he overcome the challenges ahead and claim another title, or will a new champion emerge? The tournament is shaping up to be an exciting showdown among the world’s top tennis players.