"If you look up word fight in dictionary, cross out definition they give you and replace with Rafael Nadal" - Tennis fans ecstatic after Spaniard saves 4 MPs to beat Goffin in Madrid
Rafael Nadal treated his fans to yet another spectacle on Thursday, saving four match points before prevailing against David Goffin in the third round of the 2022 Madrid Masters.
The Spaniard was cruising along at one stage, having won the first set 6-3 and going a break up in the second. Goffin, however, refused to throw in the towel and saved two match points before forcing a decider.
With both players holding serve throughout the third frame, the match went to a tie-break. It looked, at times, like the Belgian was going to pull off a heist in front of the Madrid fans, but the 21-time Grand Slam champion had the last laugh.
After three hours and 10 minutes, the World No. 4 finally emerged victorious, sending his fans on social media into a tizzy.
Every adjective in the dictionary was dished out to describe the 35-year-old's fighting spirit and parallels were drawn to the Spaniard's favorite football club Real Madrid, who pulled off an equally impressive comeback against Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal on Wednesday night.
"I simply don’t know what to say. Let’s start with the facts: Nadal beats Goffin 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(9) in Madrid in a three hour thriller. It was almost the 9th time he has lost from match point up," one account posted. "Instead, it was the 17th time he has won from match point down! Astonishing."
I simply don’t know what to say.
Let’s start with the facts: Nadal beats Goffin 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(9) in Madrid in a three hour thriller.
It was almost the 9th time he has lost from match point up.
Instead…it was the 17th time he has won from match point down!
Astonishing.
EPIC
5 times champ Rafael Nadal improves to 22-1 in 2022, surviving David Goffin 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(9) to reach the QFs in Madrid. 3h08
He was 6-3, 5-3 up and had MPs in the 2nd.
Then saved 4 MPs in the 3rd set tiebreak.
My god.
Awaits Alcaraz or Norrie.
Photo @BrunoAlencastro] https://t.co/xS7l3V21PS
Goffin: match point
Nadal's drop shot: https://t.co/UYWvqs6Uvb
"If you look up the word fight in the dictionary, just cross out the definition they give you and replace that with “Rafael Nadal”. It’s 1000x more accurate," another account posted.
If you look up the word fight in the dictionary, just cross out the definition they give you and replace that with “Rafael Nadal”. It’s 1000x more accurate.
RAFAEL NADAL IS THE GREATEST SPORTSMAN PLANET EARTH HAS EVER WITNESSED. UN-FUCKING-BELIEVABLE!
Nadal needs matches to fine tune his game.
He’s never needed more than a second to remember how to compete. Eternal warrior.
Nadal's winning forehand drop shots down match points. Both enabled by the threat of his usual forehand https://t.co/oWa7jm3Phi
"Real Madrid were almost knocked out yesterday and we went to the final and today Rafa saved 4 match points and won the match. It's a Madrid thing. Giving up is never an option," one fan tweeted.
Real Madrid were almost knocked out yesterday and we went to the final and today Rafael Nadal saved 4 match points and won the match.
It's a Madrid thing. Giving up is never an option.
#MMOpenJust another
Heart-pounding
Stick-saving
Forehand-thumping
A-mazing
moment in tennis given to us by Rafa Nadal. 🎁 #MMOpen
What. A. Match!
In a nice reminder of how good it is to have David Goffin near the top of his game, Rafael Nadal overcomes 4 match points to defeat the Belgian, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (9) and advance to the quarterfinals
With the win, Nadal moves forward to face either Norrie or Alcaraz https://t.co/kLbsINmoZa
This was not the first match the 21-time Grand Slam champion won in such fashion this year. With comebacks against Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open and Sebastian Korda at Indian Wells, this has been a common occurrence with the Spaniard in 2022, a welcome, albeit stressful development for his fans.
"Can we talk about how many dramatic matches Nadal has played in 2022?!" one user wrote.
Can we talk about how many dramatic matches Nadal has played in 2022?!
Goffin played like it was 2017 again. For a guy whose tennis was in the doldrums not that long ago, that was great to see. Nadal played like he was out for 5 weeks and only recently started practising again. But his great big heart and his experience dragged him over the line.
I think the deciders fit into 2 categories.
1. Medvedev and Alcaraz--- Nadal played his very best level and needed all of it.
2. Shapovalov, Kyrgios, Korda and now Goffin--- it was more about refusing to beat himself and staying on the winning side of critical errors w nerves.
My heart rate was off the charts here 😬
Rafael Nadal, you’ve knocked years off my life 😰 https://t.co/8M9jvCbVDm
Rafael Nadal one step closer to meeting Novak Djokovic for the 59th time
With the win against David Goffin, Rafael Nadal has moved one step closer to a 59th clash with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The Serb booked his place in the quarterfinals earlier on Thursday, thanks to a walkover from Andy Murray.
Unfortunately, Andy Murray is unable to take to the Manolo Santana Stadium due to illness 😔
We wish you a speedy recovery, @andy_murray! 😘
🏟️ Instead, Andrey Rublev and Daniel Evans will open the day's play on centre court. https://t.co/0QdLyh7qhl
The Serb will square off against Hubert Hurkacz in his last-eight fixture, while the Spaniard will take on either Cameron Norrie or Carlos Alcaraz. Djokovic and the Mallorcan last played against each other in the semifinals of the 2021 Roland Garros, where the former prevailed in four sets to take a 30-28 lead in their head-to-head.
Also Check Out :-Madrid Open 2022 Results