Rafael Nadal won more points and won bigger points than Dominic Thiem in 7-5, 6-3 victory during third-round action at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters on Thursday afternoon. Nadal avenged a recent Buenos Aires loss to Thiem by prevailing after two hours and three minutes.
A failure to convert break points proved to be Thiem’s undoing–and it’s not something to which he is unaccustomed. The 22-year-old Austrian went 1-for-15 in such situations in a straight-set loss to Novak Djokovic at last month’s Miami Open. Against Nadal, Thiem went 2-for-17 on break points–and an even ghastlier 1-for-16 in the opening set.
“I think the level was pretty high from both of us,” Thiem commented. “Of course, I had a lot of chances; probably I should [have taken] more. But he was fighting [unbelievably] all the set. At the end, it was of course a big disappointment, the first set.”
Nadal-Thiem highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLgNhXwEEQ
Thiem backhand highlights:
Another entertaining showdown–albeit of far less quality–saw Andy Murray overcome Benoit Paire 2-6, 7-5, 7-5. Paire led by a set and by a double-break in the second before melting down. The world No. 22 surged to a 3-0 advantage in the second but got broken at 3-0 and again at 4-3.
Paire briefly recovered in the third to break Murray and give himself a chance to serve it out at 5-4. Nonetheless, the second-ranked Scot stayed alive after coming within two points of defeat at deuce. He broke again for the win at 6-5 when Paire ended his effort in appropriate fashion with a double-fault.
“I was a bit stressed when it was at the point of trying to close out the match,” the Frenchman admitted. “I have many regrets…. His shots were not hurting me. I was hitting well. I had the right tactics. But later it became more complicated. I don’t know if it’s him or me. What I remember from that match is I was supposed to win that match. I was better than him for a long time.”
“It was a big win is what it was,” Murray concluded. “To win from 6-2, 3-0 down, two breaks when you’re not playing particularly well, it’s a great effort. It would have been easy to lose today and get down on myself. But I kept fighting right the way through to the end.
“It was a good one to get through because I could have easily lost today. Fought well; good effort.”
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good wins
Good win by Rafa. Thiem is a tough opponent, hitting the ball very hard and very aggressively. His FH is better than his BH imo. He’s moving very well too on clay and has a good serve.
Rafa won by his experience, too tentative during the first set I feel but played very well when facing BPs. Where saving BPs was concerned, its like vintage Rafa playing against Fed when Fed had > 10 BP chances yet couldnt convert most of them.
The second set was all Rafa, as usual he was calm and more relaxed after winning the first set. Thiem as I expected shown signs of fatigue in the second set making it a bit easier for Rafa.
Vamos Rafa. Happy for the win. Now go get Stan!
https://twitter.com/Tennis_Now/status/720617281928040449
?
Rafa & Nando withdrew from doubles – due to Verdasco’s health problem.
what’s wrong with him
A calf problem.
I am looking forward to Rafa and Stan! It should be a good one!