Rafael Nadal rushes to third round in Monte-Carlo getting closer to 12th victory

There were 32 little Indians & now there are only 16

The strong rays of the Mediterranean sun turned the red clay courts golden this Wednesday, April 17, 2019, and the forecast calls for sun and clouds, but no rain in the horizon for the rest of the week.

On Court Rainier III (central court) the matches started with the favorite Japanese Kei Nishikori ATP 6, losing his opening match to French Pierre-Hugues Herbert ATP 49 in two straight sets 5-7 4-6, ending the hopes of Asia’s highest-ranked player and reaching the third round in this tournament for the first time. The French will meet 22-year-old ATP 12 Croatian Borna Coric.

World No. 3, 21-year-old German Alexander Zverev, rushed to the third round after beating #NextGenATP Canadian hope Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 6-4. Sasha who counts with seven victories out of 10 matches at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, then proceeded to play a doubles match together with his brother Mischa Zverev, they won the first set, lost the second and the deciding tie-breaker to the pair W. Koolhof/R. Haase. Zverev will face 31-year-old, ATP 18, Italian Fabio Fognini who advanced without a sweat after Gilles Simon retired.

Pierre-Hugues Herbert, April 17, 2019 RMCM@CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Kei Nishikori, April 17, 2019 RMCM@CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Alexander Zverev, April 17, 2019 RMCM@CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Kei Nishikori, April 17, 2019 RMCM@CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Alexander Zverev victorius, April 17, 2019 RMCM@CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Defending champion and World No. 2 Rafael Nadal, had an easy day at the office defeating countryman Roberto Bautista Agut, ATP 22, in two straight sets 6-1 6-1, proving he is in top form after coming back from a knee injury and is clearly on the road to conquering his 12^thcrown. In the third round, Rafa will meet 27-year-old Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov ATP 18, who defeated J. Struff in two straight sets.

Rafael Nadal on his first match at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters 2019 @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Rafael Nadal victorious on his debut in RMCM 2019 @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha

Rafael Nadal said: “For me is just an honor to play this event. Personally, even if this tournament is very special for everybody, probably for me even a little bit more. I always loved this event. Of course, after all the things that happened here, to me, every time that I have the chance to be back here is great feelings and just trying to enjoy every one.”

Austrian 25-year-old, ATP 5, Dominic Thiem, advanced easily to the third round beating ATP 50, 29-year-old, Slovakian Martin Klizan in two straight sets 6-1, 6-4. (Photo: Dominic Thiem, April 17, 2019 @CelinaLafuentedeLavotha)

Aiming to reach back-to-back quarterfinals in the Principality, Thiem will meet 28-year-old Croatian Dusan Lajovic, ATP 48, in the third round. Lajovic defeated David Goffin 6-3 6-4. During last year’s edition of the Monte-Carlo Masters, Thiem defeated Novak Djokovic in three sets, before falling to Rafael Nadal in the final.

The 28-year-old Argentine Guido Pella, ATP 35, will meet 26-year-old, ATP 16, Italian Marco Cecchinato. The 23-year-old, ATP 56, British Cameron Norrie will face another Italian, qualifier Lorenzo Sonego, who is also 23-years-old and ranked ATP 96. The 23-year-old ATP 14, Russian Daniil Medvedev, will play against the 20-year-old, ATP 8, Stefanos Tsitsipas from Greece.

World No. 1 Serbian Novak Djokovic will be back on center court to meet 21-year-old ATP 65, American Taylor Fritz.