'What is happening': Tennis fans in disbelief over Rafa Nadal drama
Rafael Nadal has left fans baffled after struggling to an unconvincing victory over Ilya Ivashka at the Barcelona Open.
The top seed and World No.3 had to rally from a set down to beat the World No.111 from Belarus 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 on Wednesday.
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Nadal lost his serve in the opening game of the match and wasn't able to break back throughout the first set.
He won just 70.6 percent of points on his first serve, was broken twice and had two double faults in an uncharacteristically poor showing on service.
The second set was a different story as Nadal righted his serve, winning 86.7 percent of points, and 83.3 percent in the third.
He didn't face a break point in either set as he surged to victory to advance to the third round.
However his slow start left fans concerned heading into the French Open, particularly after Nadal crashed out of the Monte Carlo Masters last week in the quarter-finals.
The 20-time grand slam champion has won the Monte Carlo and Barcelona events 11 times each.
I'm very curious what's going on with Nadal
It could be possible he's not over the back spasms from Melbourne, in which case would be a very real cause for concern
Then again, if he weren't 100%, I tend to believe he'd rest until Roland Garros... Could he really be falling off?— Josh Gross (@josh3302) April 21, 2021
God what's Nadal doing
— Duns. (@LifeOfAdunni) April 21, 2021
Lmao Nadal what is you doing?🗿
— Ta Saider (@saider_mx) April 21, 2021
Deuce and 2 games down for #Nadal???
Who is #Ivashka?
What is happening?#BCNOpenBS— maria me doktora (@MariaMeDoktora) April 21, 2021
What is happening w Nadal? Has covid thrown everyone off? Nadal has not been on his game since clay season began. 🤔 https://t.co/7SLA79LbAV
— Melinda Mosheim (@melinda_mosheim) April 21, 2021
Fabio Fognini defaulted over line judge abuse
Meanwhile, second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, No.3 Andrey Rublev, No.4 Diego Schwartzman, No.6 Pablo Carreno Busta and No.10 Felix Auger-Aliassime also advanced on Wednesday.
However Fabio Fognini was defaulted for verbal abuse.
The Italian was losing 6-0, 4-4 to Zapata Miralles of Spain when a line judge reported him for swearing after a foot fault.
He had been warned earlier in the match.
At the Serbia Open, Novak Djokovic needed just 68 minutes to top South Korea's Soon-woo Kwon 6-1, 6-3 and advance to the quarter-finals.
Djokovic capitalised on five of his eight service break opportunities in the win.
In the next round, he'll meet fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic, the eighth seed, who needed three sets to oust Arthur Rinderknech of France 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Also advancing was No.2 seed Matteo Berrettini, who defeated fellow Italian Marco Cecchinato 6-4, 6-3.
Fifth seed Filip Krajinovic beat Nikola Milojevic 6-1, 6-1 in an all-Serb match.
with agencies
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