The Spaniard managed to grind out a 7-6 (3) 7-6 (5) win over the 6-foot-11-inch serving specialist to file his 18th consecutive victory initially of 2022.

Nadal is simply the second participant to begin a season 18-0 because the ATP Tour launched in 1990, with solely Novak Djokovic beforehand capable of attain that milestone. The Serb has managed it twice, beginning 41-0 in 2011 and 26-0 in 2020.

This run — throughout which Nadal gained a record-breaking twenty first grand slam on the Australian Open and titles in Melbourne and Acapulco — is the 35-year-old’s greatest ever begin to a season.
“He is among the hardest opponents on Tour,” Nadal mentioned after the match, per the ATP. “It is extremely robust to manage his weapons along with his serve and forehand.

“I feel I performed my greatest match of the match to this point right now. I’m more than happy with how I used to be capable of win the match, with two tough tie breaks. This victory means lots to me.”

Nadal is in search of his fourth match win in Indian Wells after beforehand choosing up the title in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

Up subsequent for Nadal is unseeded Australian Nick Kyrgios, who reached the quarterfinals through walkover after spherical of 16 opponent Jannik Sinner withdrew by way of sickness.

Kyrgios has been at his blistering greatest at occasions in Indian Wells and is but to drop a set or a service recreation within the match to this point.

Earlier than Wednesday’s match, Nadal mentioned he could be skipping the Miami Open on the finish of the month as he goals to prepare for the clay court docket season.

Nadal did not play within the again half of 2021 as a consequence of knee and foot accidents and says it could possibly be “harmful” to transition from exhausting courts to clay too rapidly.

“For my physique, it isn’t good to have fast transitions from completely different surfaces,” he advised reporters.

“Clay to exhausting — properly, exhausting to clay. If I play Miami, I can’t have time to relaxation and no time to make a swift transition to the clay. I wanted to push because the starting [of the season] very exhausting, in order that’s harmful for my foot, for my knees.

“I must make that transition step-by-step. I can’t make drastic modifications like I did prior to now, in order that’s why I made a decision to cease after right here and to have, like, three weeks earlier than the clay court docket season begin for me.”

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR