Masters 1000 Rome – second round –
Hubert Hurkacz beat Rafael Nadal this Saturday (6-1 and 6-3, in 1h 33m) and knocked the Spaniard out of the Rome Masters 1000. The Pole, nine in the world, was an insurmountable obstacle for the man from Manacor, who two days before had overcome the Belgian Zizou Bergs, 103rd, in the debut, but this time he could not beat a much larger rival. Already consolidated in the top-10, the gunner Hurkacz only offered options in the first game of the duel, but from then on, he dictated, ordered and won. In this way, Nadal played his last match before Roland Garros, which will begin on May 26 in Paris.
In the case of betting on competing in the French great, Nadal would land there having played eight matches on clay: two in the Godó – surpassed by Alex de Miñaur (11th) -, four in the Caja Mágica in Madrid – beaten by Jiri Lehecka ( 31st)—and two others in the Foro Italico, where it was necessary to take a leap in level that has not occurred. The Spaniard, who will turn 38 on June 3, has progressed over the last month, but is still far from his true version and found himself with an opponent who did not hesitate in the slightest, and who in the next season of the tournament He will face the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry.
Apart from Nadal’s fall, this Saturday’s day saw the elimination of Alejandro Davidovich from Malaga, inferior to Hamad Medjedovic (7-6(4) and 6-4), and a new victory for Paula Badosa. The 26-year-old Catalan beat Diana Shnaider (5-7, 6-4 and 6-4) and will face the American Coco Gauff in the round of 16 of the tournament.
[Noticia de última hora, en breve publicaremos la ampliación].
You can follow Morning Express Deportes in Facebook and xor sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter.