Rafael Nadal keeps his dream alive as he battles Pedro Cachin. tennis news

Rafael Nadal said he will “keep dreaming” after extending his stay at the Madrid Open with a 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Pedro Cachin in a three-hour match. “We are trying our best. monday. Competing in his home tournament for the last time before retirement, the five-time champion gave his shirt to the world number 91 when Catchin asked him for a souvenir of the match. “Some moments good, some moments not so good. I found a way to overcome it. I think despite some mistakes in the third set I was still a little unpredictable,” Nadal said of his up-and-down third-round win. Was capable of being.”

“Now I’m enjoying. Let’s see how I wake up tomorrow. Playing at home means everything to me, just trying my best to keep dreaming.”

Nadal’s reward on Tuesday is a last-16 clash with 30th seed Jiri Lehka, who defeated the Mallorcan in a practice session a week ago.

The 37-year-old player has been struggling with physical problems, due to which he has been limited to eight matches this season.

Asked if he would be surprised if he managed to defeat Lehka on Tuesday, Nadal said: “Yes, even more so after today’s match. I will be facing a player who plays at a very high level.” Whose service is very powerful.”

While Nadal has already defeated a higher-ranked opponent this week – No. 11 Alex de Minaur – he believes the quality of Lehka’s ball is “another step up”.

Top seed Jannik Sinner defeated world number 72 Pavel Kotov 6-2, 7-5.

Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik defeated American Ben Shelton 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 to enter the fourth round, where he will face third-seeded Daniil Medvedev.

‘Respect women more’

Ons Jabeur criticized organizers of European tournaments for giving preference to men in combined events, saying, “They need to respect women more.”

Jabeur, the 2022 champion, was speaking after beating ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-0, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Madison Keys in Madrid.

“I think we still have a long way to go, especially here in Madrid and Rome, in Europe in general,” he said.

Jabeur said female players were not given equal access to practice courts and were less on television.

“The way they treat women and men here is completely different,” he said.

“Here in Spain, I would love to go to a hotel, turn on the TV and watch a women’s tennis match.

“How do you inspire young girls without showing any matches?”

Top-seeded Iga Swiatek lost the opening game before winning the next 12 games to beat home favorite Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-1, 6-0 and advance to a quarterfinal clash with Brazilian lefty Beatriz Haddad Maia.

Keys won an all-American battle by defeating third-seeded Coco Gauff 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-4 to reach the last-eight in Madrid for the first time.

The 29-year-old missed the start of the season with a shoulder injury, which kept her out for four months.

Gauff, who was broken seven times and committed 13 double faults, expressed regret over her serve.

“Not holding my serve honestly cost me the match,” the reigning US Open champion said.

“My service is evolving and a lot of small changes are being made to it,” he said. “When it’s on, it’s definitely a weapon and I think that’s making it more consistent.”

Mira Andreeva also reached the quarter-finals, celebrating her 17th birthday with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 win over Italian 12th seed Jasmine Paolini, fulfilling her dream of reaching the fourth round in Madrid It is one year from completion. On her WTA debut.

The Russian teenager lost to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka at the Caja Magica 12 months ago and could get a rematch with the world number two, who faced Danielle Collins in the last match of the day on Center Court.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)