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Rafael Nadal was thrilled with the performance he delivered versus Lorenzo Sonego in the Wimbledon third round. After two unconvincing wins at the start of the tournament, Nadal looked much better in the third round as he saw off Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4.
Nadal's break point realization was great as he converted 6-of-8 of his break point chances. "It was probably my best match without a doubt here at The Championships against the most difficult player I have faced yet,” Nadal said in his on-court interview, per the ATP website.
“I was able to raise my level, so I am super happy for that. I wish Lorenzo all the very best for the rest of the season”. Nadal needed four sets to beat Francisco Cerundolo in the first round and he was also pushed into a four-setter by Ricardas Berankis in the second round.
Nadal: I played better than in the previous rounds
"I made I think a lot of things much better than the previous days: the determination, the way that I managed to play more aggressive, going to the net plenty of times," Nadal said.
"[I am] happy. It's [a] good victory against a great player. Very happy for that." Nadal plays next Botic van de Zandschulp, who saw off Richard Gasquet to reach his first Wimbledon last-16. Van de Zandschulp has been on the rise over the last 12 months and Nadal says he won't be taking the Dutch for granted when they meet for the second time.
A month ago at the French Open, Nadal ousted van de Zandschulp in three sets. "He's a player that has been improving unbelievably the last year. [It] was a good challenge in the French and I think he will be more, [difficult here]," Nadal said.
"He's a complete player with a lot of great things, and I need to keep going the way that I played today: playing aggressive and playing with the right energy. Let's see. He's a tough opponent, but we are in fourth round. That's the way that it should be."