Madrid Open: Nadal Continues return after victory over Cachin

Rafael Nadal continued his comeback from injury at the Mutua Madrid Open on Monday, when he battled past Pedro Cachin 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 to reach the fourth round at a tour-level event for the first time since 2022.

The Spaniard is a record five-time champion in Madrid and showed flashes of his vintage best against Cachin, running around his backhand at times to dictate with his inside-out forehand in front of a vocal home crowd on Manolo Santana Stadium.

“Some moments were good, some moments not good, but I found a way to go through,” Nadal said. “In the third set, even with some mistakes, I was able to be a little more unpredictable and that probably changed the match.”

The 37-year-old was pushed hard by Cachin, who won his only tour-level title on clay in Gstaad last year, but the lefty came up with the goods in the third set. After dropping the second set, Nadal found extra whip and power off the forehand wing in the decider, while he looked physically strong to secure a hard-fought victory after three hours and four minutes.

“I am enjoying. Let’s see how I wake up tomorrow,” Nadal said on his fitness. “I don’t know. Day by day I am enjoying playing at home, it means everything to me. I am trying my best to keep dreaming. Tomorrow is another day to keep dreaming. To keep playing in front of this amazing crowd and to me that means everything.”

Nadal overpowered Cachin with his bulldozing forehand during the closing stages of the third set and let out a roar after earning his sixth tour-level win of the season.

Earlier, Czech Lehecka beat Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 7-6(7) to advance to the fourth round at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the second time. The 22-year-old has never faced Nadal.