Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal storms into twelfth ultimate after making mild work of Reilly Opelka problem

Italian Open 2021: Rafael Nadal got here up with one other scientific efficiency because the 9-time champion eased previous USA’s Reilly Opelka in straight units within the males’s singles semi-final in Rome on Saturday. Italian Open: Rafeal Nadal extends excellent semi-final file to 12-0 (Reuters Photo)HIGHLIGHTS9-time champion Rafael Nadal gained his twelfth semi-final at Italian OpenNadal defeated USA’s Reilly Opelka in a simple semi-final matchNadal eyes Novak Djokovic’s Masters 1000 file, the duo might meet in final9-time champion Rafael Nadal stormed into the ultimate of Italian Open 2021 after easing previous USA’s Reilly Opelka 6-4, 6-4 of their males’s singles semi-final on Saturday. Nadal prolonged his excellent semi-final file on the clay-court Masters 1000 event to 12-0.Second seed Rafael Nadal was in high type as he carried the momentum following the straight-set win over Alexander Zverev to the semi-final in opposition to World No. 47 Opelka who had not misplaced a set earlier than Saturday’s outing in opposition to the 20-time Grand Slam champion. Nadal bought a break in every of the 2 units to finish a snug victory.Nadal is only a win away from equalling Novak Djokovic’s file for probably the most variety of Masters 1000 titles on the ATP tour. Nadal now has 35 whereas Djokovic, who might probably face Nadal on Sunday in Rome, has another Masters 1000 title.’05: Nadal’06: RN’07: RN’08: Djokovic’09: BOTH’10: RN’11: BOTH’12: BOTH’13: RN’14: BOTH’15: ND’16: ND’17: ND’18: RN’19: BOTH’20: ND’21: RN@RafaelNadal ensures that both he or Djokovic have reached the Rome ultimate yearly since 2005!#IBI21 pic.twitter.com/77SbLI1bUw— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) May 15, 2021
Nadal is now additionally inside touching distance of successful a single tour-level occasion on 10 or extra events for the fourth time. The Spaniard already owns 13 Roland Garros crowns, 12 Barcelona trophies and 11 Monte-Carlo titles.Nadal didn’t have a superb outing in Madrid Masters because the clay-court legend was ousted within the quarter-final by Zverev. A win in Rome wil give the 20-time Grand Slam champion the much-needed enhance within the result in French Open, beginning May 30.Earlier within the day, high seed and 5-time champion Novak Djokovic got here again from a set down to say a surprising win within the quarter-final over fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. Djokovic was not at his finest however he refused to go away regardless of taking place a break within the decider of his 3 hour and 17-minute battle which slipped into Saturday after rain delay on Friday.Djokovic might be again in motion afterward Saturday when he takes on native hope Lorenzo Sonego, who defeated World No. 7 Andrey Rublev in his quarter-final match. Following his wins over US Open winner Dominic Thiem and former world quantity six Gael Monfils in earlier rounds, the 26-year-old Sonego grew to become the primary native man within the semi-finals of the Masters 1000 occasion since Filippo Volandri in 2007.Click right here for IndiaToday.in’s full protection of the coronavirus pandemic.