Nadal with first dominant victory at 2022 Wimbledon as he moves to R4
ATP
After previously losing a set in both of his matches at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, Rafael Nadal didn't allow Lorenzo Sonego to cause any upset in his third-round match.
It seemed that it would be difficult for Nadal to challenge for the title at SW19 after his first two matches at Wimbledon this year. In the first round, he needed four sets against Francisco Cerundolo, and in the second round, he needed four sets again against Ricardas Berankis.
However, in the third round, the 22-time Grand Slam champion proved everyone wrong as he destroyed Lorenzo Sonego in three sets. The Italian played well up until this match, as he beat Hugo Gaston in straight sets in the second round.
Both players started the match by holding their service games, but then, the Spaniard started a one-man show. Nadal won nine games in a row, and quickly, he found himself leading 6-1, 4-0, and he clearly had the match in his grasp.
After breaking his Italian opponent four consecutive times, he couldn't add any more breaks in the second set and won it 6-2. In two sets, the Spaniard lost only three games, and he was cruising in this match.
He started with a break also in the third set, and when the scoreboard showed 4-2, it seemed that the match would be soon over.
However, then the tournament officials decided to close the roof, and after a few minutes, players returned to the court, and it seemed that Sonego was one who profited from the break.
He won eight out of nine points and leveled the score of the third set to 4-4. Yet, Nadal showed all of his experience, earned the break back, and won the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. In the fourth round, he will face the No. 21 seed, Botic van de Zandschulp.
