59:Rafael Nadal &
The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal apologised for calling Lorenzo Sonego to the net after advancing to the last 16 at Wimbledon. Sonego and Nadal locked horns in the third round of the Men's Singles draw at the ongoing Wimbledon. Nadal looked visibly unsettled by Sonego's loud grunt in the middle of a rally in the eighth game of the third set. The Spaniard then called Sonego up to the net for a sort of face-to-face confrontation, which the Italian objected to.
But after the game, Rafael Nadal apologised to his younger opponent and said, “I have to say that I was wrong. I should not (have) called him to the net. So I apologise for that. My mistake... I recognise that". "All the stuff (after) the match that I don't want to comment because I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. Only thing I can say is I saw him personally. I apologise for that”, Rafael added.
“My intention was never to bother him at all. Just to tell (him) one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that's it. I think there is some codes between players. We had some issues there. But that's it,” Rafael Nadal continued.
It was probably my best match without a doubt: Nadal
Talking about his 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Sonego, Rafael Nadal talked about how this was the best game in the tournament so far in his on-court interview. He said, “It was probably my best match without a doubt here at the Championships against the most difficult player I have faced yet. I was able to raise my level, so I am super happy for that. I wish Lorenzo all the very best for the rest of the season.”
Rafael Nadal will take on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the fourth round who defeated Richard Gasquet. The French tennis player led the game 5-3 but failed to score any of his five-set points during his serve in the ninth game of the first set and fell to a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (7,) 6-1 defeat.