Rafael Nadal recently admitted that his level of play has become more unpredictable as he secured a hard-fought victory against Argentine Pedro Cachín at the Madrid Open. The Spanish tennis star, who has been dealing with injuries this year, triumphed over Cachín in a three-hour, four-minute match, winning 6-1 6-7(5-7) 6-3. This victory signals a potential resurgence for Nadal as he gears up for the upcoming French Open.
This marks the first time since 2022 that Nadal has reached the fourth round of an ATP Tour event, having participated in only three tournaments this year. Reflecting on his performance, Nadal expressed uncertainty about his future form, stating, 'I cannot predict what’s going on tomorrow, what can happen tomorrow, or what level I’m going to show tomorrow. I’m more unpredictable than what I used to be.'
Despite the challenging match, a heartwarming moment occurred at the net between Nadal and Cachín. Following their intense battle, Cachín described it as a 'dream' to play against Nadal and requested to keep his opponent's shirt or towel. In a gracious gesture, Nadal gifted Cachín one of his purple t-shirts before they left the court.
The match itself was a rollercoaster, with Nadal dominating the first set before encountering a resilient Cachín in the second. Nadal fought back from a double break and saved two set points, but Cachín ultimately forced a tie-break to level the match. In the decisive set, Nadal showcased his experience and determination, securing the victory.
Nadal's impressive performance in Madrid includes defeating world No. 10 Alex de Minaur in the second round. Up next, Nadal is set to face Czech Republic’s Jirí Lehecka in the round of 16, continuing his quest for success in the tournament.
