Rafael Nadal eliminated in the third round of the Italian Open 2022 in three sets by Denis Shapovalov. At the last test before the Roland Garros, the ten-time champion of the tournament gradually dies and in the heart of the third set he reveals evident physical problems.
Rafa does not opt ​​for retirement or even for the intervention of the physiotherapist, but suffers a partial shock of 14-0 and basically awaits defeat. Shapovalov takes his ‘revenge’ after the 2020 defeat in Rome and that, if possible more bitter, in Australia at the beginning of the year with a fluctuating 1-6 7-5 6-2.
Nadal had only happened in one case to stop before the quarter-finals in Rome: in 2008. In that case, against Juan Carlos Ferrero, it was the blisters that stopped him.
Stan Wawrinka tried to do something against Novak Djokovic but it wasn’t enough.
The world number one, who struggled so much to find rhythm, after the semifinal in Madrid, has regained confidence. Nole seals the success at 6-2 6-2 and reaches Felix Auger Aliassime in the quarter-finals. A two-sided game for Alexander Zverev, who after a poor first set of problems needs to raise the level to break down Alex de Minaur’s resistance.
The German, who does not take advantage of a break advantage on two occasions, serves with rather modest results for the match at 6-5, however he saves himself at the tie break.