Indian Wells, California. Due to a nagging foot injury, Rafael Nadal improved his record to 18-0 this season by beating Reilly Opelka 7-6(3), 7-6(5) on Wednesday in the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open. .
“I can’t say it’s a dream because I couldn’t even dream about it three months ago, two months ago,” Nadal said. “I’m just enjoying every moment.”
Nadal’s playing time was cut short last year due to COVID-19 and injuries, raising doubts about the Spanish star’s ability to recover well enough to maintain his rigorous standards. But he won his record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January and continued on a tear.
“I’m just really happy to play tennis,” said Nadal, who turns 36 in June. “Today was a little worse than other days. It’s true that the last couple of days my leg has been bothering me a little more.”
Nadal has already pulled out of the Miami tournament that follows Indian Wells. He needs extra time to prepare for the clay court season, which is not as harsh as the hard courts.
Nadal rallied from a 2-4 deficit in the second set to take a 6-5 lead. Opelka held his own after three deuces as Nadal scored from the right, chasing the American’s short shot to force a second tie-break.
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Nadal took a 4-1 lead in the tiebreak when Opelka had trouble returning the serve. However, on his serve, the 6-foot-11 American closed out 4-3, hitting drop and forehand winners.
Again on his serve, Opelka closed 6-5.
But Nadal closed it, pulling Opelka off the court, and the American hit from the left.
“It’s about trying to hit the ball so that you don’t take too many risks, but at the same time, don’t let him come in and take the shot,” Nadal said. “Trying to find the right balance between the two.”
There were no service breaks in the first set. Opelka hit the only break point in Game 7 with a winning shot and a right hand. Nadal held on to love for 6-all, forcing a tie-break. Opelka led 3-2 with a winning right hand. Nadal won the next five points, all due to Opelka’s mistakes, and took the set.
Nadal improved to 19-0 against American rivals after losing to John Isner at the 2017 Laver Cup.
Nadal, a three-time desert champion, advanced to the quarterfinals against wildcarded Nick Kyrgios. The Australian reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final since winning Washington in 2019 after 10th-placed Yannick Sinner withdrew due to illness.
Taylor Fritz made 14 aces, beating Alex De Minor 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5).
“I have more confidence in my shot, so when it comes down to it, I feel like I can trust what I want to do, trust my game,” said Fritz, who reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells last year.
Fritz will then play Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in the quarter-finals. Kecmanovic cleared 14 aces from No. 6 Matteo Berrettini in a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-4 win.
Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria beat Izner 6-3, 7-6 (6) and then played number seven Andrey Rublev, who defeated Hubert Gurkach 7-6 (5), 6-4. Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaras beat Gael Monfils 7:5, 6:1. He will face defending champion Cameron Norrie in the quarterfinals, who defeated Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-4.
In the Women’s Game No. 3, Iga Swiatek thrashed the Madison Keys 6-1, 6-0 in less than an hour to advance to the semi-finals. Simona Halep took the lead by beating Petra Martic 6-1, 6-1. Halep won at Indian Wells in 2015, her biggest hard court title to date.