By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, April 14, 2016
A fired-up Rafael Nadal fought off 15 of 17 break points warding off Dominic Thiem, 7-5, 6-3, to set up a Monte Carlo quarterfinal vs. Stan Wawrinka.
Photo credit: Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters/Getty
Rafael Nadal had his back against the wall for so long today it's a wonder his sweaty silhouette wasn't showing up next to the Rolex crown on the back green fence.
Repeatedly pushed to the break-point precipice by Dominic Thiem throughout a fierce 80-minute opening set, Nadal was often outgunned, but refused to be outfought.
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Digging in with defiance, Nadal denied 15 of 17 break points warding off the talented Thiem, 7-5, 6-3, in a punishing two hour, three-minute Monte Carlo Rolex Masters victory.
It was a match where his grits, guts and will power carried the King of Clay past a dangerous opponent, who squeezed Nadal in a vise-grip of pressure for much of the first set.
The fifth-seeded Spaniard avenged a 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (4) loss to Thiem in the Buenos Aires semifinals last February. Thiem saved a match point in that test and went on to win the title. Nadal was in no mood for a replay today.
The eight-time Monte Carlo champion advanced to a blockbuster quarterfinal against 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka in a battle of players who have combined to capture 10 of the last 11 Roland Garros championships.
The fourth-seeded Swiss broke serve five times obliterating 15th-seeded Gilles Simon, 6-1, 6-2, in 82 minutes. Wawrinka has not dropped a set in two wins this week. Neither has Nadal after pulling off multiple escape acts this afternoon.
Nadal knew exactly what kind of dirt warfare he was in for against Thiem, who hits a heavy ball off both wings, is extremely quick, exceptionally fit (he leads the ATP in decisive-set matches with a 12-0 mark in 2016) and, like his opponent, exudes a love of the good fight.
Not only was Thiem willing to grind with Nadal from the start, he was calling the shots at the outset.
Uncorking a twisting topspin forehand winner, Thiem gained triple break point in the third game, but couldn't convert. Thiem tomahawked a forehand winner down the line for a fourth break point. Bailing out of the point, Nadal hit a tame drop shot that sat up, Thiem swooped in and swatted a forehand winner for 2-1 in his only break of the first set.
Searching for solutions in rallies, Nadal began varying the spins and heights of his shots, mixing the low slice backhand with his curling topspin forehand to break back for 3-3.
Thiem continued the pressure earning triple break point again. Dripping sweat and slowing his pace between points, Nadal zapped a backhand down the line to deny the third break point, then earned a time violation warning for delay. A backhand down the line gave Thiem an eighth break point but he missed a mid-court sitter.
By the time Nadal knifed an inside-out forehand winner in the ninth game he had faced 13 break points in the set, saving 12 of them. A demanding game raged beyond the 13-minute mark when Nadal attacked behind a backhand only to see Thiem whipped a wondrous one-handed backhand down the line for a 14th break point. A magical drop shot and lob combination winner saved it. Nadal fought off six break points in all during that frenetic 15-minute game to hold for 5-4.
A stubborn tug-of-war escalated in the 11th game as Thiem leaned low to lash a tremendous running backhand pass that drew audible gasps from the crowd and earned another break point. As expected, Nadal dug in for denial mode again. He had fended off 15 of 16 break points in holding for 6-5.
Haunted by lost opportunities, Thiem dumped his second double fault to face double set point. The Austrian saved both, but sprayed a forehand then gifted the set with his third double fault ending a grueling 80-minute set with a sputter. Nadal escaped from break-point pressure time and time again stealing a set that seemed to be in Thiem's grasp.
Strengthened by the struggle, Nadal slid his third ace opening the second set with a love hold.
Hitting harder and heavier, Thiem broke Nadal on his first chance of the second for a 2-1 lead only to see Nadal break right back.
Defending both break points and his second serve with more vigor empowered Nadal through the finish line. He won 55 percent of points played on his opponent's second serve and converted four of eight break-point chances, earning the final break for 5-3. Nadal served out a pulsating match at love erupting in a loud roar magnifying just how meaningful this victory was to him. Hopefully, Nadal and Thiem will meet again in Paris as the 22-year-old with two titles to his credit in 2016 is coming on strong.
The Nadal-Wawrinka match is a rematch of the 2014 Australian Open final that Wawrinka won to claim his first Grand Slam title. Nadal has won 14 of their 17 meetings, but the Swiss prevailed in their last clay-court encounter in the 2015 Rome quarterfinals.