Rafael Nadal overcame a slight setback in the second set to defeat Pedro Cachin 6-1 6-7(5) 6-3 in the third round of the Madrid Open on Monday.
Nadal, who defeated 10th seed Alex de Minaur in the previous round, remained composed against the challenge posed by the 91st-ranked Argentine.
Cachin struggled against Nadal’s powerful forehand in the opening set, where Nadal broke twice to secure a commanding lead before a brief interruption due to a spectator feeling unwell.
In the second set, Cachin showed improvement, taking a 4-1 lead before Nadal rallied to force a tiebreak, which Cachin won.
However, Nadal bounced back in the decisive set, breaking Cachin twice to clinch victory, much to the delight of the local crowd.
Nadal expressed gratitude for the support, emphasizing the significance of playing in front of such passionate fans.
In the next round, Nadal is set to face Czech player Jiri Lehecka, who advanced by defeating Thiago Monteiro.
