Rafael Nadal made it to the 2024 Bastad Open quarter-final after beating Cameron Norrie in two relatively simple sets.
Norrie might just be one of the best British players on clay right now because he's had a long history of doing well on the surface. His game isn't the most aggressive, but he tracks the ball down well and generally doesn't overhit too often, translating well on the red dirt.
Unfortunately for him, he faced the greatest player who ever played on the surface—Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard is not playing at his peak right now, but even at this decent level, the 38-year-old is so much better than a lot of players on clay.
This match was Norrie's third against the Spanish legend on clay, and much like the previous two, it wasn't a very convincing showing. The Brit has struggled against Nadal in the past, winning only one of the five matches they played, the most recent one two years ago at the United Cup.
Their meeting at the ATP 250 tournament in Bastad came in a year when Norrie hasn't looked too convincing, even if he did show a very high level at times. The match started well for both players, as they were able to keep their serves relatively comfortably.
Nadal was the first player to run into minor issues, but he survived that sixth game to make it 3-3. The next game ended up being crucial for the whole match, as the Spanish wild card finally got break chances, and after wasting two, he didn't waste the third one.
Another pivotal game was the tenth game of the opening set when the 14-time French Open winner was trying to serve out the set. He had to save two break points in that game but finally won the set, 6-4, after converting his second set point.
It was hugely important for him to win the opening set, and it took a bit of effort, lasting 50 minutes. The second set started slowly as the rallies were long, which wasn't a bad tactic by Norrie.
He was certainly the player capable of lasting longer in that type of match, and eventually, he got the break to take a 3-1 lead. Nadal pushed immediately to break back but wasn't able to convert on the break points, so Norrie took a 4-1 lead.
The high wouldn't last long for Norrie, though, as the Spaniard kept pressing and eventually broke back to make it 4-4. It was a crucial momentum swing because the British player really needed that second set.
Losing the break the way he did simply gave Nadal the fuel he needed to mount another push, and he'd do just that. He won 14 points in a row before Norrie finally snapped his streak, and he needed that point because it saved him from facing three consecutive break points.
Nadal eventually still got the break point and converted it to take a 5-4 lead in the second set. He didn't have any issues holding his serve to win the match 6-4, 6-4, and advance to the Bastad Open quarter-final. With the draw's shape, Nadal has a decent chance of making the final and actually winning the tournament.
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