The Spaniard, Rafael Nadal survived a wild scare in the opening set of Rogers Cup 2019, against the seventh seed, Fabio Fognini in the quarterfinals. Nadal has battled through to the quarters with a 2-6, 6-1,6-2 win over the Italian, Fognini.

Set One: 

Fognini held a 4-1 lead in the first set against Rafa and converted his two break chances. Fognini was impeccable in the first set and pulled off the set 6-2 against Rafael Nadal. He won 9 out of 11 points on the World Number two, Nadal’s second serve and saved the only break point he faced. 

First set against the four-time champion, FOGNINI!

Second Set: 

An agitated Rafa was seen, as he played his worst first set since US Open 2016, where Dominic Thiem bageled him. Later in the second set, Rafael Nadal won the first eight points of the set as it was love hold and love break at 2-0.

The match was expected to have similar results from their Monte-Carlo Masters meeting this year, where the Spaniard lost to Fognini, but Rafa could ameliorate his tennis this time and gave a tough time to the Italian Number one tennis player.

Nadal’s winning percentage on serves got drastically improved in the second set and his second-serve winning percentage was 100.

Fed him a baguette!

Set Three:

The ATP men came up with an artistic form of tennis in the deciding set and both of them played magnificent tennis at 3-1 which was followed by some astute touches by both the men and jaws dropped on the Centre Court of Montreal.

Aesthetic Tennis!

Rafael Nadal dominated the set to take a 5-1 lead in the decider. Nadal’s serving momentum was maintained in the third set as well.

Rafa’s Lasso!

Later in the set, Fognini could just win a game and Rafa closed out the match.

Ace it out!