Rafael Nadal and Stan Wawrinka solid a notable rivalry on the ATP Tour. Two nice rivals embraced 22 duels between 2007 and 2019, with the Spaniard celebrating in 19. Stan’s three wins over Rafa got here in 2014 and 2015, and he remembers certainly one of them vividly.
The Spaniard had overwhelmed the Swiss 12 instances in a row earlier than struggling the primary defeat within the 2014 Australian Open ultimate. A 12 months later, they met within the Rome Masters quarter-final, and Wawrinka earned his first and solely clay-court triumph towards the best participant on that floor.
Stan toppled Rafa 7-6, 6-2 in two hours and 6 minutes. He carried out a wonderful comeback within the opener and broke the legend’s resistance in set quantity two for a notable victory he nonetheless remembers.
Stan Wawrinka, Rome Masters 2015© Stream screenshot
Wawrinka outplays Nadal at Foro Italico
The Swiss overcame a 6-2 deficit within the tie break of the opening set, rattling off seven of eight factors and stealing the set. He used that increase within the second set and sailed excessive in straight units for a spot within the semi-final. Stan served at solely 57%, drawing probably the most from that.
He defended seven of 9 break factors and outplayed Nadal behind the second serve. Rafa obtained damaged 4 instances from seven alternatives offered to his rival. Wawrinka landed 25 winners and 32 unforced errors, speeding to the web 30 instances and protecting the factors on his racquet.
Rafa completed the duel on an 18-23 ratio and missed his possibilities on the return, together with all 5 break factors within the second set. Stan constructed the benefit within the shortest exchanges. Nadal erased the deficit a bit within the mid-range ones however trailed in probably the most prolonged ones.
Rafael Nadal, Roma Masters 2015© Stream screenshot
Stan saves 4 set factors, steals the opening set
The primary a part of the duel lasted an hour and quarter-hour and went right down to the wire. The king of clay made a dependable begin. He transformed the third break level within the first sport of the duel after a artful drop shot for an early benefit. Wawrinka pulled the break again within the second sport for 1-1.
The Swiss closed the third sport at 15 and earned a break likelihood within the subsequent one. The Spaniard saved it with a forehand winner and locked the outcome at 2-2 with a service winner. Stan missed an opportunity to create a break level within the sixth sport, and Rafa closed it with a smash winner.
Rafael Nadal & Stan Wawrinka, Rome Masters 2015© Stream screenshot
Nadal stepped in on the return in sport seven, welcoming the rival’s forehand error and delivering a break for a 4-3 lead. A left-hander denied a break level within the eighth sport with a service winner earlier than Wawrinka cracked a forehand down the road winner on the second for 4-4.
They served nicely within the subsequent 4 video games, with Rafa presenting a maintain at love at 5-6 to introduce a tie break. Rafa landed a forehand winner for 3-2 and painted a cracking backhand down the road winner two factors later for 5-2. Stan sprayed a backhand error within the eighth level, dealing with 4 set factors.
The Swiss saved his composure and defended them, locking the outcome at 6-6 with a winner on the internet. The Swiss landed one other volley winner, taking 5 straight factors and incomes a set level. Nadal erased it with a valiant forehand winner, leveling the rating at 5-5.
Nonetheless, Wawrinka landed a booming forehand down the road winner. Thus, he moved 8-7 in entrance and seized the second set level with a pressured error for 7-6 after an hour and quarter-hour!
Stan Wawrinka, Rome Masters 2015© Stream screenshot
Wawrinka downs Nadal in set quantity two
Rafa made a recent begin to the second set, touchdown a volley winner on the internet for a maintain at love. Stan grabbed the second sport at 15 and created a break likelihood within the subsequent one after the rival’s free forehand. Nadal denied it with a service winner however confronted the second.
Wawrinka transformed it with a forehand down the road return winner, opening a set and a break benefit and gaining an enormous increase. The Swiss held after a deuce within the fourth sport, attacking and shutting it with a forehand winner for a 3-1 benefit.
Rafa skilled one other blow within the fifth sport. He wasted a sport level and netted a forehand to undergo one other break and fall 4-1 behind. Stan defended 4 break factors within the sixth sport, holding after over 9 minutes and forging a 5-1 lead.
Rafael Nadal, Rome Masters 2015© Stream screenshot
The Spaniard served to remain within the match within the seventh sport and painted a forehand down the road winner to extend the motion. Nadal made one final push on the return at 2-5, producing a break level. Wawrinka erased it with a service winner and hit a volley winner for a match level.
The Swiss sealed the take care of a forehand down the road winner, celebrating his second victory over the Spaniard and the primary on clay.
“Playing Rafa is always challenging, especially on clay. I lost to him many times. I raised my level in Rome 2015 and finally beat him on his favorite surface, which was very special,” Stan Wawrinka stated.
