Three-time Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal clinched his 12th quarter-final in the desert after a hard-fought 7-6 7-6 win over Reilly Opelka in two hours and 11 minutes. Nadal trailed at Stadium 1 in the second set before erasing the deficit and avoiding more court time.
Thus, Rafa remained perfect in 2022 and became the second player since 1990 after Novak Djokovic with an 18-0 start to the year. The Spaniard collected his 98 Masters 1000 quarterfinals, reaching at least one in 18 consecutive seasons!
Opelka did her best to keep up with his opponent, serving to 76% and rejecting four of five break points. The American took a 4-2 lead in the second set before the Spaniard recovered the break. Nadal managed a lone mini-break in the tie-break to emerge on top and set up the quarterfinal clash against Nick Kyrgios.
Rafa had 20 winners and 15 unforced errors, dominating his shots and outpointing Reilly in the longest exchanges to cross the finish line first. There were no returners in the opening six games after earning just five points.
The rivals reached 3-3 in 20 minutes, and Nadal created the first break opportunity in the seventh game after a loose forehand from his opponent. Opelka fought back with a smash winner into the net after a 15-punch exchange and launched a forehand winner for 4-3.
In the remainder of the set, both players quickly held serve to reach a tie break after 46 minutes. Opelka hit a forehand winner for a 3-2 lead before netting an easy backhand. Rafa got a mini-break at 4-3 after a big forehand error from his rival and got to 6-3 after another loose shot from Reilly.
The American placed a backhand past the baseline on the tenth point to hand the opening set to the Spaniard after 54 minutes.
Kyrgios is playing the 2022 Diriyah Tennis Cup
With no beating around the bush, Nick Kyrgios has finally explained the reasons behind him giving the recently concluded Davis Cup a miss.
“Maybe if Australia embraced me a little bit more, I would play for it and bring home the trophy,” Kyrgios said. “At this point of my career, I’ll always do what’s best for me. I can travel around the world playing exhibitions around this time of year for six figures.
I feel I put myself in that position, so it’s an easy one for me. I’ll easily take time with my family and my girlfriend and enjoy experiences around the world and earn that type of money rather than playing a week away in something where I wouldn’t be able to be with my girlfriend and I’m not getting paid that well,” he added. “That doesn’t really make sense to me and my progression as an athlete”.
