By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, August 4, 2021
In his first match in 54 days, Rafael Nadal rallied from a break down in the final set fending off Jack Sock 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(1) to reach the Washington, DC round of 16.
Photo credit: @mikelawrencesports/Citi Open Facebook
Tested to the limit in his comeback, Rafael Nadal battled pain and power with inexhaustible intensity to pull out a pulsating victory.
Roaring back from a break down in the final set, Nadal fought off Jack Sock—and withstood foot pain that left him gimpy at times—posting a thrilling 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(1) triumph in his Washington, DC debut at the Citi Open.
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Playing his first match in 54 days since he fell to Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros semifinals, Nadal exuded familiar fighting spirit saving eight of 10 break points and lifted his level in the tiebreaker to prevail in a punishing three hour, four minute battle that featured some superb shotmaking from both men.
"Have been fantastic to be back on tour especially with this amazing crowd," Nadal told Tennis Channel's Paul Annacone and Bret Haber afterward. "We missed them a lot and honestly the energy here in Washington is huge. I can't thank enough the people here, the support and the welcome has been unforgettable.
"In terms of the match of course has been an amazing match. Jack played well and for me it has been tough to find the rhythm after a couple of months without playing and coming back from a period of time a little bit of rough. Happy for an important victory, hope to be ready for tomorrow."
The 34-year-old Spaniard arrived in the nation's capital after putting down his racquet for 20 days to rest a foot injury that sidelined him from Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics. Nadal looked to be grimacing at times, he pulled up on a few balls in pursuit, but was quick off the mark when it mattered most in the tiebreaker bursting out to a 5-0 lead.
"The foot is bothering me; it was painful tonight," Nadal said. "Hopefully tomorrow it's gonna be better. I don't know. I'm gonna do everything I can to be ready for tomorrow.
"I have to fight against an opponent so it has been a mentally and physically tough night, but always the victory helps to keep going and tomorrow I really hope to feel myself better."
Rust from inactivity was evident early as Nadal struggled to land first serves.
The pair collaborated on some electric all-court exchanges including Nadal pulling off a tremendous tweener to set up a forehand winner four games into the match.
Nadal dipped a topspin forehand pass eluding a stretched Sock holding for 3-2. Nadal chipped a backhand return down the line handcuffing the serve-and-volley Sock for break point. When Sock slapped a forehand into net to cap a sloppy game, Nadal had the break and a 4-2 lead.
Though still searching for his first serve, Nadal navigated a three-deuce game backing up the break for 5-2.
Turning his hips and shoulders into his shots, Nadal rocked Sock's world in the eighth game.
The top-seeded Spaniard slashed three forehand winners—zapping a 106 mph diagonal rocket for set point and spinning a forehand return winner down the line to snatch the opening set on a four-game surge.
Sock pounced on a mid-court ball and lasered a leaping forehand down the line for break point in the seventh game. Nadal saved it but missed a forehand to face break point number two. When the Spaniard knocked a forehand into net, Sock erupted in a loud "come on!" breaking for 4-3 in the second set.
Moving up closer to the baseline and shortening his backswing a bit on return, Sock tested the Spaniard's serve in the ninth game. Sock slammed three forehand winners earning set point. Nadal slid a forehand down the line to save a set point. Nadal tried the serve-and-volley off a second serve, pulled off a stunning, spinning sky hook overhead, but Sock read the shot, crept into net and knocked off the volley for a second set point.
Nadal scorched the sideline with a forehand to erase it then dabbed a drop shot denying a third set point. Some fans stood and cheered as Nadal toughed out a 10-minute hold for 4-5 forcing Sock to serve out the set.
Serving for the set, Sock botched a smash to fall behind 15-30. But on a second serve return a flat-footed Nadal netted a return giving the American a reprieve. Pouncing a short return, Sock slammed a forehand winner down the line earning set point number four. Sock closed the set with a shout.
Seizing charge with a flurry of forehands, Sock pushed Nadal into the corners and drew the running error to break in the first game of the last set.
The world No. 192 dodged a break point when Nadal, with a good look at open court down the line, narrowly missed a forehand. Sock, who was serving consistently bigger than Nadal, ripped some serves down the middle holding for 2-0.
Digging out of a love-30 hole, Sock played a fierce fourth game ending it with an ace out wide for 3-1.
Undaunted, Nadal faced adversity with aggression. Crunching a forehand for break points, Nadal was off the mark quickly sliding into a drop shot retrieval then watched Sock net a pass to break back and level after six games. A fired-up Nadal pumped his fist to celebrate looking eager to intensify this fight.
While Nadal was locked in, Sock squandered a 40-love lead in the eighth game to face a break point. He saved it with a flying forehand. Sock stamped a love hold to force the tiebreaker.
That's when Nadal elevated to a higher gear.
Three hours into this battle a sprinting Nadal raced from well behind the baseline up to a Sock drop shot and shoveled a no-look pass crosscourt for a 3-0 tiebreaker lead. Nadal followed with a pair of drop shot winners for 5-0. The 20-time Grand Slam champion roped a forehand to close a fierce fight in style.
"Of course it's difficult; he has a big shot and he has a big spin on the serve," Nadal said of Sock. "I feel at the beginning after the first couple of games I think I finished the first set playing well. But then in the second I played a bad game with my serve and then he had the break. And then I was not able to come back and I needed to play a litle bit longer to create more damage on him because if he's hitting the ball in the comfortable positions with his forehand it's almost impossible.
"I think at the end I did better with that I was playing a little bit longer, I was playing a little bit more aggressive especially the first couple of shots that's what I needed."
Now the question is: How will Nadal cope with the foot pain and will his movement be compromised for his round of 16 meeting vs. 14th-seeded Lloyd Harris?
"Of course it's not easy to be back on the tour on hard courts," Nadal said. "After a while some problems on the foot after clay court season I had to cancel a couple of very important events. But when I decided to come here I know the situation will not be perfect. I will be suffering, but I hope to be able to keep improving a little bit day by day. I am working hard and I hope the foot is gonna be good. "