Rafael Nadal is through to the quarter-final in Brisbane following a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over the home player Jason Kubler. Rafa played well on serve and return, never getting broken and breaking Jason four times to control the pace and march into the last eight. Rafa lost five points behind the initial shot in the opener, fending off three break points in the only troubled game and mounting the pressure on the other side. Kubler failed to win a point behind the second serve, losing serve two times and pushing the legend in front. Nadal held at 15 in the encounter’s first game after the rival’s mistake and settled into a fine rhythm. Rafa forced Jason’s forehand mistake in the second game, earning three break chances. The Spaniard seized the first with a forehand crosscourt winner, building an early advantage. A 22-time Major winner cemented the lead with a hold at love in game three after a service winner, moving 3-0 in front after ten minutes.
Rafael Nadal played well against Jason Kubler in Brisbane.
The Aussie wasted four game points in the fourth game, experiencing another break and falling further behind. Jason denied two break points before squandering his opportunities to get his name on the scoreboard. Nadal clinched the third break chance with a behind-the-back volley winner at the net, securing another game and extending his advantage. The veteran held at 15 in the fifth game, landing a forehand crosscourt winner right after the serve and moving closer to a bagel. Kubler received a medical timeout on his right hand and held with a winner at the net in game six to end his downfall. Rafa served for the set in game seven and faced three break points. The Spaniard denied two with powerful serves and climbed back to deuce. Nadal drew Kubler’s mistake on the first set point, wrapping up the opener 6-1 after 41 minutes.
Rafael Nadal, Brisbane 2024Ā© Chris Hyde / Stringer – Getty Images Sport
The Aussie sprayed errors at the beginning of the second set and lost serve at love, pushing the Spaniard closer to the finish line. Rafa held at 30 in game two for 2-0 before facing a break point at 2-1. He denied it with a forehand down the line winner after a lucky net cord and held for 3-1 after another powerful forehand. Jason found his strokes in the last couple of games, battling against Rafa from the baseline. Kubler produced a reliable hold in game five, reducing the deficit to 3-2 and hoping for more return chances. Instead, Nadal fired four forehand winners in the sixth game, moving 4-2 ahead and keeping the pressure on the other side. Rafa grabbed another break in the seventh game, moving 5-2 in front and serving for the victory. Nadal earned three match points in game eight and sealed the deal on the second with a backhand crosscourt winner.