Rafael Nadal: This is why Nadal completed French Open comeback win over Diego Schwartzman
RAFAEL NADAL benefitted from a change of conditions and tactically outsmarted Diego Schwartzman today, reckons Greg Rusedski.
French Open: Nadal wins point after epic rally with Schwartzman
Nadal came back from a set down to beat Schwartzman 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 in the French Open quarter-final today.
The match had been suspended over night due to rain, with Schwartzman leading by a set but about to lose the second.
Greg Rusedski reckons Nadal got the better deal in the changed conditions back on court on Thursday afternoon.
And the former British No 1 praised the Spaniard for changing his tactics to utilise the conditions in full.
“You look at Rafa after that first rain delay, he comes back, serves better and hits the ball harder,” Rusedski said.
“But then tactically today he was going a lot more back behind Schwartzman, which was very, very clever tactically. This is why he is such a champion.
“He keeps Schwartzman off balance early on in rallies. Another thing he did well: he served a lot faster than he did yesterday.
“Conditions were a lot more fine. The ball was sailing around, going harder. And that really suits Rafa.
“As soon as he went on the forehand side, he went to the backhand, opening up Schwartzman. Tactically that was very astute.”
Schwartzman won just four games on his return to court today yet kept Rafael Nadal busy, forcing the Spaniard to deuce on a number of occasions.
235th Grand Slam match win for @RafaelNadal!
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 7, 2018
The 10-time champion recovers from a set down to reach the semifinals 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-2 over Schwartzman.#RG18 pic.twitter.com/Nr8ZvwkPCI
He even frustrated the world No 1 in the final game of the match, with Nadal requiring three match points before finally dispatching his opponent.
Rusedski was impressed by Schwartzman but was unhappy that the Argentine only showed his true spirit when a break down.
“I felt Schwartzman only played the right way when he was behind, when he was down a break in each set,” he added.
“That’s when we saw him trying to get back into the match.
“I wish he’d started with that aggression from the beginning of this match.
“But it’s difficult to do when conditions are this quick, compared to last night when it was very heavy.”