By John Parsons in Monte Carlo
(Filed: 18/04/2024)
sport.telegraph.uk

The remarkable Tennis Masters baptism of Spain's 16-year-old Rafael Nadal ended here yesterday but three of his countrymen remain in today's quarterfinals, including the only surviving seeds, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Moya, heading for a repeat of last year's final. Mental and physical fatigue from his four previous victories eventually set in, but the teenage left-hander amply justified the excitement surrounding him before losing 7-6 (7-5), 6-2 to the vastly experienced Guillermo Coria.

In the first set especially, he made life distinctly uncomfortable for the Argentine, twice breaking back and once again demonstrating admirably mature shot selection for his age.

Coria now meets another Argentine, Juan Ignacio Chela. They have shared success in two previous matches, but have also both been banned for drug offences.

Watching Nadal intently was his mentor and inspiration, Moya, a fellow Majorcan - who had earlier booked his place in the last eight with a 6-2, 6-4 defeat of yet another Spaniard, Tommy Robredo.

Moya now faces French wild card Julien Boutter, last week's champion in Casablanca, who needed electrical stimulation for a back injury the night before and then practised for an hour before somehow finding the strength to despatch Holland's Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

The American Vince Spadea achieved the most dramatic win of the day. From a set and a break down, he beat the Croatian Ivan Ljubicic 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-8).

Two qualifiers remain, Spain's Albert Martin, who now faces Ferrero, and the 21-year-old Italian, Filippo Volandri.

Greg Rusedski's comeback has been postponed yet again. The left-hander, who has not played since losing to Pete Sampras in the third round of the US Open last August and has slipped to 69 in the world rankings, had been hoping to return to the circuit in Barcelona next week. He says he has not yet recovered sufficiently from the knee surgery necessary after he was injured while practising in the United States in March.

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