Worry. Nadal lost to Felix Auger Aliassime in the last Wimbledon warm-up tournament. Photo John Walton / PA via AP)
After Roland Garros, where he was once again champion, Rafael Nadal lost at Hurlingham to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (7-6 (6), 4-6 and 10-3), who would have been the rival of Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals, at the end of his preparation for Wimbledon.
The Spaniard, who beat Stanislas Wawrinka on this same track on Wednesday, fell in the final super tie-break against Auger-Aliassime, a pupil of his uncle Toni and possible rival of Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals, after more than two hours of game.
Nadal had positive sensations from the game despite the defeat and that is that, in addition to the necessary two hours of rhythm in the legs, he did not lose his serve once and did not suffer a break ball with his serve. However, a premature double foul at 6-6 in the first tie break sentenced him to lose the first set.
He recovered in the second, where he overturned Auger-Aliassime with a break in race five, but gave in in the final break, where the Canadian was unstoppable.
“The goal is achieved, play a couple of games here. It was two good days, today was a good test against a great player. This time Auger-Aliassime was a little better than me, so congratulations to him. I have to keep working in the remaining days, but I get good things, “he analyzed.
Nadal will make his debut next Tuesday against Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo in the first round of Wimbledon, for which he will continue to prepare over the next three days.
“You have to improve everything a bit. I need to improve, but as always. This is our life. Every day you have to try to be better. I haven’t played on this surface for three years, so every day is a test., an opportunity to be better. I hope to be ready for the start of the competition, “concluded the 22-time Grand Slam champion.
Nadal and Auger-Aliassime could face off again in the quarter-finals at the All England Tennis Club, this Friday’s draw revealed. Manacorí, who will debut this Tuesday at Wimbledon against Argentine Francisco Cerúndolo, who they have never faced in his career, have already beaten the Canadian this season at Roland Garros, in five sets.
The Spaniard played this match after morning training in the Wimbledon facilities. Nadal found that draw as he rehearsed on the training tracks, where he trained for an hour and a half with American Frances Tiafoe. He lost the training set they played before leaving for Hurlingham.
Meanwhile, Schwartzman comes from not having fun in Eastbourne, where he quickly lost and, on top of that, his personal belongings (including his passport) were stolen from the hotel where he stayed with his team. Now, to face the Canadian at Hurlingham, he must beat Alexei Popyrin.
With information from EFE
Source: Clarin
