Rafael Nadal had many thrilling moments in the season behind us, winning two Majors despite injuries and setbacks. The Spaniard missed the second part of 2021 and made a perfect return at the start of 2022, conquering his first Australian Open crown since 2009.
Nadal faced Adrian Mannarino in the fourth round and delivered a 7-6, 6-2, 6-2 triumph in two hours and 40 minutes. Adrian did his best to challenge Rafa in the opener, reaching a tie break and making it memorable! The Frenchman squandered four set points and lost it 16-14 after almost half an hour of a roller coaster ride.
Nadal prevailed and took a massive boost that carried him toward a one-sided scoreboard in sets two and three. Mannarino lost only a couple of points behind the initial shot in the opening set and kept the pressure on the other side.
Rafa faced a break point at 5-5 and saved it with a service winner to avoid the setback.
Rafael Nadal and Adrian Mannarino played a 30-minute tie break in Melbourne.
A left-handed Frenchman fired a service winner in the 12th game to introduce a tie break that went down to the wire!
Nadal claimed three straight points from 4-2 down and gained the advantage with a service winner. The Spaniard earned two set points in the tenth point with a brilliant forehand crosscourt…
