MADRID - Rafa Nadal saved four match points to beat Belgian David Goffin 6-3 5-7 7-6(9) in an absorbing match on Thursday and move into the Madrid Open quarterfinals.
Just as his beloved Real Madrid came back from the brink to reach the Champions League soccer final on Wednesday, 35-year-old Nadal found extra energy in reserve to win a lengthy tiebreak.
The victory was the 1,050th win of his career as he moved into a Masters 1000 quarterfinal for the 99th time and he was lifted by Real's dramatic 3-1 win over Manchester City achieved with the help of two last-gasp goals.
"Yesterday was an unforgettable night. The spirit that Real Madrid had was just incredible. For me today, in some way, it was an inspiration," Nadal said in a post-match interview with the ATP. "It was a tough match, David played at a very high level but at the same time I am not completely happy, because I think I had to finish the match in straight sets, without a doubt."
G L A D I A T O R
All four match point saves as @RafaelNadal seals a special Madrid victory!@RafaelNadal #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/phNlJCDPwE— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 5, 2022
Uncharacteristic errors and double faults from third seed Nadal allowed Goffin to break first and go 3-2 up in the opening set but the Spaniard quickly broke back twice to serve out the set, sealing it with a venomous crosscourt forehand winner.
Nadal's stroke-making became more confident in the second set as he used every corner of the court to pepper winners past Goffin, who had no answer and constantly looked up to the heavens in despair. But the experienced Belgian eventually found his range and played with more authority as he rallied from 3-5 down, breaking twice to force a third set.
Playing only his second match after returning from a rib injury, Nadal looked rusty as he let his advantage slip when Goffin saved two match points in the second set, much to the shock of the home fans at the Manolo Santana Stadium. There was nothing to separate the two in the third set that went to an absorbing tiebreak, where Goffin initially bounced back from 4-1 down to nearly clinch victory before Nadal prevailed in just over three hours.
VAMOS RAFA
The moment that @RafaelNadal reached a record 99th Masters 1000 quarter-final!#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/npP9518AMH— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 5, 2022
"Three hours 10 (minutes) on court helps increase my physical performance. A very important victory saving match points, that (gives me) confidence to keep going," Nadal added. "I need matches and I need days like today to be fit."
Nadal will play either his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz or Briton Cameron Norrie in the next round.
Earlier, defending champion Alexander Zverev moved into the quarterfinals after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire due to a thigh injury when he was down 6-3 1-0. The Italian had called for the trainer between sets but could not continue. Sixth seed Andrey Rublev dispatched Dan Evans with a 7-6(7) 7-5 victory over the Briton after recovering from a slow start and the Russian will face fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-3 6-4.
Top seed Novak Djokovic earned a day of rest after his last-16 opponent Andy Murray pulled out due to illness. The Serb will next face Hubert Hurkacz who defeated Dušan Lajović 7-5 6-3.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
