Washington ATP 500: Rafael Nadal's display and talent show in the long-suffering victory over Jack Sock

08/05/2021 13:02

• Clarín.com

• sports

Updated 08/05/2021 13:02

Spaniard Rafael Nadal returned to competition for the first time since the Roland Garros semifinals, making his debut in the first round of Washington's ATP 500 and did so

with suspense and an extra three hours and four minutes

of work before winning by 6 -2, 4-6 and 7-6 (1) to American Jack Sock.

It all happened in the tournament in the American capital, which serves as preparation for the US Open. 

The triumph of Nadal, the first seed, was the sixth he achieved in the same matches he had with Sock, number 192 in the world, but the first since 2017.

Nadal, who started safely with his tennis from the back of the court, rest and serve, won the first set easily as he had no response from Sock.

Some points were great.

We are NOT WORTHY 🔥🔥🔥

4th game of the match and @RafaelNadal gives us this to drool over ... @ CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/REekXJ4j9b

- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 4, 2021

But everything changed in the second set when Sock secured his serve and Nadal started making too many unforced errors that ultimately cost him having to go to the third inning.

His luck was defined in the third set thanks to his experience and, above all, how well he played again in the tiebreak he dominated to ensure the victory and advance to the second round.

Just more ridiculous stuff from Rafa 👊 @ RafaelNadal back to his very best ... @ CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/fAkSESXaA4

- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 5, 2021

There Nadal will have as his rival the Australian Lloyd Harris, who qualified after his rival, the American Tennys Sandgren, retired in the first round match they both played.

Harris, the fourteenth-seeded, 24-year-old, world 50, who will face Nadal for the first time as a professional, was winning 6-4 1-0 when Sandgren retired injured.

EPIC 🤩🤩

Nadal and Sock are going the distance in DC tonight… @ CitiOpen pic.twitter.com/OpIBoaaaOD

- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 5, 2021

Weight drops

If Nadal avoided the biggest surprise of the day, several of the seeds could not do it, the Australian Alex de Minaur (3), the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (4), the English Daniel Evans (6), the Kazakh Alexander Bublik (9), the American Taylor Fritz (10) and the French Benoit Paire (13).

The American Steve Johnson won 6-7 (5), 6-4 and 6-2 over Minaur, the Bulgarian Ilya Ivashka defeated Dimitrov 6-2 and 7-6 (4) and the young American sensation Brandon Nakashima, 19, won 7-6 (1) and 6-0 at Evans.

For his part, the Japanese Kei Nishikori beat Bublik 6-2 and 7-5, the American Denis Kudla beat his compatriot to Fritz 6-4 and 6-2.

While the also American had to work three sets in the end to win 6-7 (6), 6-4 and 6-4 against Paire.

Source: EFE

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