Madrid Open: Rafael Nadal begins farewell with straight-set win
by BBC
BBC— Rafael Nadal begins his Madrid Open farewell with a comfortable straight-set win over American teenager Darwin Blanch.
The Guardian—Rafael Nadal bids emotional farewell to Madrid Open after loss to Jiri Lehecka. Five-times winner is honoured by event after 7-5, 6-4 defeatWorld No 1 Iga Swiatek to face Madison Keys in semi-finalsRafael Nadal’s rousing, dramatic last stand on home soil came to an end just after midnight in the early hours of Wednesday morning as he was outhit and outplayed by Jiri Lehecka, a talented young Czech, who seized one of the biggest moments of his career so far by toppling the Spaniard 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.The defeat will likely mark Nadal’s...
The Guardian—'I hope I have generated emotion': Rafael Nadal bids emotional farewell to Madrid Open – video. Rafael Nadal's spirited run at his final Madrid Masters came to an end when Jiri Lehecka defeated the 37-year-old 7-5, 6-4. Following the match, a ceremony took place celebrating the Spaniard's previous successes at the tournament, as five banners – one for each year he has won the title – were unfurled and a trophy presented. Nadal spoke after the match saying he hopes he has 'generated emotion and illusion' in those watching throughout his career. He is likely to retire later this year but the...
Tennis.com—Rafael Nadal vs. Jiri Lehecka, Mutua Madrid Open. On Tuesday, April 30, Rafael Nadal’s comeback tour continues with a match against Jiri Lehecka in the Mutua Madrid Open. Nadal is coming off a 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-3 win over Pedro Cachin in his last match—a 3:06 battle. It was nice to see Nadal, whose 2024 season has been shaped by health concerns, find a way through a long, physical match. However, it is a little concerning that Nadal needed to dig that deep in order to get by a player of Cachin’s caliber. And that makes it hard to believe in him...