Rafael Nadal Rafael Nadal keeps clay dream alive at Madrid Open battles past Pedro Cachin of Argentina
Monday, 29 Apr 2024 18:30 pm

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Rafael Nadal said he is doing his best to "keep dreaming" after he extended his stay at the Madrid Open by winning a three-hour tussle with Argentina's Pedro Cachin 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3 on Monday.

Contesting his home tournament one last time before retirement, the five-time champion gave the world number 91 his shirt after Cachin asked him for a memento from the match

Some moments good, some moments not good. I found a way to be through. I think in the third set with some mistakes I was still able to be a bit unpredictable," Nadal said of his roller-coaster third-round victory.

The Russian teenager fell to eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka at the Caja Magica 12 months ago but will get a rematch with the Belarusian world number two, who outlasted American Danielle Collins 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in Monday's last match