Tennis Week
by Adrianna Outlaw
July 9, 2024
Rafael Nadal respects his elders � he just can't tolerate losing to them. The 17-year-old Spanish sensation crushed compatriot Albert Portas, 6-0, 6-4, today to advance to the Synsam Swedish Open quarterfinals in Bastad, Sweden.
The victory comes a day after Nadal defeated third-seeded Younes El Aynaoui, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. El Aynaoui was the tournament runner-up last year.
It was a fearless display of shot-making skill from Nadal, who boldly blasted winners from both his forehand and backhand, producing angles that eluded Portas. Recovering from a one-sided first-set, Portas played consistent tennis in the second set, which stayed on serve until the 10th game when Nadal broke to earn the victory.
In the quarterfinals, Nadal will play sixth-seeded Nicolas Lapentti, who held off Romanian Adrian Voinea 6-4, 7-6 in a tight, tense, two-hour battle.
In raising his record to 9-4 on the season, Nadal scored his second victory of the year over Portas. The Mallorca native registered a 6-2, 7-6(2) victory over Portas in the final of the Barletta, Italy Challenger staged on clay in March.
"I beat Portas in the Barletta final in April, and I expected today's match to be tougher," Nadal said. "I don't see myself as a winner yet. My results this year have happened much faster than I could ever imagine. I have more confidence even when meeting top players now."
Nadal has registered impressive results against fellow Spaniards this season. In April, he beat former French Open champion Albert Costa, 7-5, 6-3, before falling to Guillermo Coria in the third round of the Tennis Masters Series-Monte Carlo. He followed that victory with a 7-5, 6-4 triumph over mentor and fellow Mallorca native Carlos Moya in the second round of the Tennis Masters Series-Hamburg.
Showing his skills aren't confined to clay courts, Nadal made his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon where he reached the third round before bowing to Paradorn Srichaphan, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.
Defending champion Moya, who is the tournament's top seed, takes on Sweden's Robin Soderling tomorrow for a semifinal spot. Former No. 1 Moya has already claimed two claycourt titles this season, Buenos Aires and Barcelona, while the wild card Soderling is coming off a third round effort at Wimbledon.
Second-seeded Tommy Robredo will play Hicham Arazi in another quarterfinal tomorrow.
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