Overcoming the problems of the first week, Rafael Nadal makes the cut to the round of 16 of the Championship for the eighth time in his career and equals the records of Bjorn Borg and Tim Henman. Everything was relatively easy against Botic Van de Zandschulp, who was really clinging to the match until 4-4 in the first set and returned to the court in form thanks to the contribution of the Spaniard one step away from the most predictable of outcomes. The Spanish champion, very brilliant on serve and tending to be very aggressive from the baseline, despite the final lapse sealed his success 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6) and was joined by Taylor Fritz , executioner by Jason Kubler. Nadal plays the game that he has to play. And he also does it with a certain quality. In the first set alone, he closes 78% of the points with the first ball and only commits three unforced errors. It was a real match up to 4-4, with an ultra-aggressive Van de Zanschulp hooking up at 30-30 in game seven thanks to some flair from the Spaniard under the net. In short: Rafa, who flirted with a break early on, nevertheless managed the decisive break at 5-4 and took the lead without any particular difficulties. Nadal definitely took his measure on the return, kept an incredibly high level on his serve, and thanks to a mega-split 5-0, put the arrow in the second set as well. Called to maintain a break advantage, the two-time champion of the tournament hits the Dutchman's left diagonal more insistently and also finds a valid way to lengthen the number of prolonged exchanges. The second break is practically a logical consequence. Nadal contributes to Van de Zandschulp's cause, but soon reestablishes the hierarchy during the third.
Martin pays tribute to Rafa NadalRafael Nadal has the "best attitude necessary" to achieve the calendar-year Grand Slam, said former World No. 4 Todd Martin. "I thought Novak Djokovic was going to win the Calendar Slam last year in New York. Generally, it seems to me he doesn't enjoy the pressure, but he can fight against it very well. I had a feeling that the pressure was going to bring out that 'There is absolutely no way I'm losing this' mentality from him, but it didn't happen, and Medvedev played great as well," said Martin. "Long-term, Rafael Nadal is so focused on that process: what do I have to do today, what do I have to do right now. That's the way he thinks and in my mind, he has the best attitude necessary for the Calendar Slam. This place can make anyone nervous, but maybe Nadal won't feel it because of the way he thinks," he added.
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