Google News Roland Garros 2021: Rafael Nadal vs Alexei Popyrin's HIGHLIGHTS
by LORENZO CIOTTI
Rafael Nadal regains possession of Philippe Chatrier of the Roland Garros 2021 and, despite an empty pass in the heart of the second set, the Spaniard overcomes Alexei Popyrin with an excellent 6-3 6-2 7-6 (4). The Spanish champion reaches one hundred and one successes on the clay courts of Roland Garros and reaches Richard Gasquet, executioner of Hugo Gaston in the second round.
Over the course of the first set, Nadal travels at relatively low speeds and piles up the vast majority of difficulties with the second ball. After a double foul on 30-15, the Australian tennis player ventures into the net in the next two fifteen (obviously with modest results) and does not find the ball out of the service at 30-40.
Popyrin, who tries to shorten the number of protracted exchanges, inevitably ends up exaggerating the number of unforced errors. Nadal catches the break on two consecutive occasions and despite a 0-30 disadvantage at 5-2 he does not make any particular changes to the script.
Popyrin understandably leaves fears aside and relies on a decidedly more aggressive tactical plan in the third. Condition that Nadal struggles to absorb and above all leads to a small break. Called to serve to secure the set, the Australian tennis player runs into a bloody double foul on the first set point and does not close a smash.
The fourteen-time champion of the tournament, at 5-5, concedes something and does not use a handful of break points to move up to 6-5. The tie break is a practically logical consequence. And logically, it doesn't reveal too many surprises.