Rafael Nadal beat Cameron Norrie fo 6-1 6-4, thus accessing the semifinals of the ATP 500 in Barcelona. He then continues the hunt for the twelfth victory: between the final and the 20-time Grand Slam champion there is now Pablo Carreno Busta.
Nadal at 70% of the condition is realistically enough to unhinge Norrie's defense. Compared to the first two weekly outings, the Spanish champion considerably limits the number of unforced errors and, above all, manages to manage almost all the shifts more comfortably.
The British, if only during the first fraction, practically has time to move the zero from the game box. Norrie then shows up at the second appointment with a double fault, but still manages to get her head ahead after a 0-5 half-shot.
The percentage of first balls in the field for the executioner of Karen Khachanov is around 45, who finds very few weapons to contain Nadal leaving the service. Norrie piles up three unforced errors during the third game and inevitably finds herself playing the role of prey with the finish line in plain sight.
Nadal goes down 0-30 in the next game, but asks for the support of the serve and with two aces in a row restores the hierarchy. After wasting a handful of balls for the double advantage, the Spaniard allows himself a game break and momentarily puts Norrie back on track.
A little bad. With a new zero break and a batting round that ensures the advantages, the eleven-time champion of the tournament crosses the finish line after just under two hours of play. The other semifinal will be bewteen Stefanos Tsitsipas and Jannik Sinner. Below the highlihgts of the quarterfinals.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3tNcGwN
Tennis