Rafael Nadal failed to claim the fifth Caja Magica title this week, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-final. It was Nadal’s 16th quarter-final in Madrid and the 99th at the Masters 1000 series since reaching the first in 2005 at 18!
Nadal leads the charts with 99 Masters 1000 quarter-finals, hoping to secure a massive record next week in Rome. Madrid was Nadal’s first tournament since Indian Wells, skipping six weeks due to a rib injury and making a winning return against Miomir Kecmanovic.
Rafa beat an in-form Serb 6-1, 7-6. Rafa played on a high level in the opener before experiencing issues in the second after loose strokes from his backhand. Despite that, Rafa served for the win at 6-5, only to lose serve and keep the Serb in contention.
The home favorite claimed the tie break 7-4 to seal the deal and secure the victory. Nadal faced David Goffin in the third round, seeking the fifth victory against the Belgian from seven meetings.
Rafael Nadal scored his 99th Masters 1000 quarter-final in Madrid.
Rafa built a 6-3, 5-3 lead before David bounced back to make it an epic encounter that lasted three hours and ten minutes!
Goffin survived two match points in back-to-back games in the second set’s closing stages and rattled off four straight games to steal the set and force a decider. The Belgian survived an early scare in the final set’s opening game and followed Nadal’s pace in the remaining ones to reach a tie break.
It turned into a roller coaster, and Rafa saved four match points with brave hitting to stay alive. Goffin squandered his chances, and Nadal closed the breaker 11-9 for one of his most thrilling wins at Caja Magica. Rafa could not repeat that in the quarter-final against the young compatriot Carlos Alcaraz.
A teenager overpowered the king of clay in sets one and three in a 6-2, 1-6, 6-3 victory for a place in the semis. Carlos saved six out of nine break points and grabbed four return games from five opportunities to control the scoreboard and remain on the title course.
The youngster overpowered the veteran with 37 winners and 31 unforced errors, dictating the pace and showing his incredible skills in front of the home fans. Nadal got broken three times in the opening set and bounced back in the second after Alcaraz’s ankle injury.
The youngster bounced back in the decider, barely losing a point behind the initial shot and delivering a single break in game four to emerge at the top and end Nadal’s campaign.
