Rafael Nadal is a master of timing.
Nadal beat Milos Raonic 6-4, 7-6(7), 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena, evened the match, and held the most important moments down the stretch.
Nadal scored 117 points in the match to beat Raonic’s 95 (+22). The Spaniard was at his best in finding ways to the wire in each set to secure a quarter-final victory.
Raonic was only broken twice in the match, in the first and third sets, and it was Nadal’s superior experience and timing that proved crucial. Nadal was not broken in 16 service games.
Building Recovery Pressure
In the opening set, Nadal leaned on Raonic’s opening service game, extending it to three deuces, holding off the Canadian.
Although Nadal was unable to break, he sent an early message. Prepare for this additional sound.
Raonic held on in his second service game, but had to serve again in his third game. In the Canadian’s fourth service game, at 3-3, the pressure meter exploded, Nadal jumped to 15.
Nadal didn’t break in the previous two service games, but extending to serve well helped him read his opponent well and keep the pressure meter up.
Nadal lost just two points in his next two games to secure the first set.
Failed to Convert Break Points
Raonic had to win the second set to have a chance to win the match. He held his only four break points in the match in two sets, but was unable to convert any of them. More times over time where Nadal put his signature.
Raonic’s first break point came from Nadal’s opening game of the second set, without ad. Nadal hit a 160km/h slice that served Roanic’s backhand unreturned. Where was it going too?
Raonic then held three more break points when Nadal served at 4-5 – all points that would have leveled the match and given a huge boost to Canada’s chances of advancing to the semi’s.
On the first break point, Raonic made a forehand error. At 30-40, Raonic made a backhand error. On the third set point, Nadal hit 163 km/h on the body and followed up with a forehand win.
More important times.
Raonic then took a 6-4 lead in the second seat-breaker, but made a return error and coughed up a double fault.
Lots of possibilities. Many times during the momentum, equalizing the points, entering the match, playing with Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals.
Winners and mistakes
In all, Nadal hit 15 winners to Raonic’s 11. There was no backhand winner for the Canadian at 212 points.
Whenever Nadal needed a point, he knew tonight, on this court, that he could hit Raonic on the back without revenge. Raonic’s zero backhand winners were a poor number. 30 backhand errors provided zero support.
Nadal won 53 percent (61/116) of his baseline points, while Raonic was a distant 35 percent. (31/89). Raonic only served and voted five times, won three times, and won only 52 percent (27/52) of finding the net on the night.
Nadal has won big times and has been dominant in many circles. Coming from behind against a 14-year Grand Slam champion at Rod Laver Arena is a bridge too far.
