Rafael Nadal Comments on Swedish Open Courts After Reaching Quarter-Finals
Rafael Nadal has noticed a change in the courts at the Swedish Open as he progresses to the quarter-finals. Playing on clay he last experienced in 2005, Nadal made a strong start to his campaign in Bastad, competing in both singles and doubles.
What did Rafael Nadal say about the courts at the Swedish Open?
Upon arriving in Bastad, Nadal observed that the courts were slippery due to heavy rainfall. The overcast weather made conditions heavy, but after defeating Norrie, Nadal noted that the courts have improved.
“The courts are courts. Ready to hold the rain and the tough weather. Over the last two days the courts, in my opinion, have been improving, but the previous days had been raining quite a lot, so the court was more slippery than usual,” Nadal explained.
“But these courts allow you to keep playing tennis, because the courts hold the water very well. You can play, but it is dangerous to play, that’s the truth. Today that’s not the case; for me the court was much worse the first day. Hopefully, we can have some dry conditions and the courts can keep improving.”
Rafael Nadal evaluates his performance against Cam Norrie after reaching Swedish Open quarter-finals
Facing one of his toughest challenges of the season, Nadal took on Cam Norrie for a spot in the Swedish Open quarter-finals. With a first serve win percentage of 74%, Nadal managed to control most rallies. Despite trailing 1-4 in the second set, he rallied to win five straight games, securing a 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Commenting on his comeback, Nadal said, “At the beginning of the second set, I was playing better than him. I had break points and was more in control, but I played a bad game and he played a good game and he broke me.
“So I said to myself, ‘OK, it’s 1-4, but it could be 4-1 for me too, so I just need to keep doing the things that I am doing’. I probably played a little bit more aggressively with my backhand, which I think at the end of the match worked a little bit better. That makes the difference. With the forehand I am quite happy, and with the serve too.”
