Rafael Nadal: “I Have Been Lucky”

Rafael Nadal is all set to compete in his 11th semifinals at the Mutua Madrid Open 2019. He defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-2 quite comprehensively in the quarterfinals of Mutua Madrid Open 2019 on Friday.

Rafael Nadal was struggling with a knee injury during the Indian Wells and Miami Open 2019. But luckily he got fit for the clay season after facing a lot of troubles.

Rafael Nadal has put a very high standard for himself on the red surface over the years. Results haven’t been on track till now in the 2019 clay season for Rafael Nadal. He failed to win his record 12th Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open title as he was defeated in the semifinals successively. Rafael Nadal will get one more chance to progress into the finals at the Mutua Madrid Open 2019.

The 5-time Mutua Madrid Open champion praised Stan Wawrinka after thrashing him in straight sets. He said, “He’s been playing really well on clay in the last few weeks and he also beat Nishikori which is also a very tough player. So he was playing really good. I was expecting a tough match today. “

Rafael Nadal was certainly delighted after his best performance on clay in the 2019 season. He said in a press conference, “I knew I had to play a little better and fortunately it is has been a good day for me. I have been lucky. It was an important day for me that I think I have been able to work through the next stage.”

The Spaniard added that he has been struggling in the past month. He further added, “And this gives me the possibility to be in a semifinal, which is the third consecutive in the last few weeks. And I know for a few of you guys it might seem very little, this, due to everything I have been able to achieve during the last year on this surface. But I come from a complicated month with a lot of physical struggles. To be able to compete every single week I have been competing is a step forward for me.”

Rafael Nadal will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinals who defeated Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of Mutua Madrid Open 2019. Nadal has a perfect head-to-head record 3-0 against Stefanos Tsitsipas. The two played at the clay court in Barcelona, last year, where Nadal defeated Tsitsipas 6-2, 6-1 quite comfortably.

He’s also a young player. He has a lot of potentials, a lot of energy,’ the world No. 2 said on Tsitsipas. ‘He’s playing well. He has won a lot of matches in a row. So, it’s going to be one of these matches that is an opportunity.

Rafael Nadal praised the Greek, “It is a good test for me. I’m facing some of the best players. He has a lot of confidence. He’s been playing well recently and it is an opportunity to test my level of the game and to confirm those good feelings that I have had today on the court.”

“You need tough matches to be able to measure yourself, to be able to test yourself, to compete and to fight for every single point and to keep on finding the things that I might need,” added the World no. 2.

Rafael Nadal is ready to face the best of the best to progress to the last stage of the tournament. He said, “Weeks like this really help me a lot in order to build my game and to improve and tomorrow is another extra opportunity and, hopefully, I will be ready to play against an opponent like the one I have to face tomorrow.”

It will be interesting to see if Stefanos can stop the Spaniard at his reign and revenge his defeat at the Barcelona Open 2018.