Indian Wells Masters LIVE: Rafael Nadal continues winning run, enters Quarterfinal by beating Opelka in tough two sets

Indian Wells Masters LIVE – Nadal Enters Last 8: Indian Wells Masters LIVE: Rafael Nadal continues winning run, enters Quarterfinal by beating Opelka in tough two sets:  After earning his 400th career ATP Masters 1000 victory by defeating Dan Evans on Monday, Rafael Nadal takes on Reilly Opelka in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters on Thursday. Nadal clinched a 7-5, 6-3 victory over Evans to extend his career-best unbeaten start to an ATP Tour season to 17-0. Meanwhile Opelka defeated Denis Shapovalov in three sets to set up a clash with Nadal. Follow InsideSport.IN for more updates. 

Indian Wells Masters LIVE: Rafael Nadal continues winning run, enters Quarterfinal by beating Opelka in tough two sets

Rafa Nadal toppled big-serving American Reilly Opelka 7-6(3) 7-6(5) to remain perfect on the year while unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic stunned world number six Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4 in the fourth round of Indian Wells on Wednesday.

Make that 18 on the run 🙌@RafaelNadal passes the Opelka test 7-6 7-6 and moves into his 12th QF in the desert!#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/tVpm1LSosG

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2022

Indian Wells Masters LIVE – Nadal Enters Last 8:  Despite Opelka’s serve reaching speeds as high as 147 miles per hour, the Spaniard was the better in their rallies, dictating points and eliciting errors from the baseline. After a high-level first set, Nadal wobbled in the second, playing a sloppy service game to go down a break at 3-2 and he tapped his head in frustration during the changeover.

Indian Wells Masters LIVE: Rafael Nadal continues winning run, enters Quarterfinal by beating Opelka in tough two sets

But he regained his focus, breaking back to level at 4-4 and remaining perfect on serve in the second tiebreaker. He sealed the victory with a beautifully constructed point that pushed Opelka off the court. “He is a very difficult player to play against with his huge serve and huge forehand, but I think I played my best match of the tournament so far,” Nadal said in an on-court interview.

His best start to a season yet 💪

With his win over Opelka, Rafael Nadal becomes the second player to start a season 18-0 since 1990 🔥 @RafaelNadal | @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/m7r9ItDY11

— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 16, 2022

Indian Wells Masters LIVE: Rafael Nadal continues winning run, enters Quarterfinal by beating Opelka in tough two sets

Nadal stood as far back off the baseline as the court would allow on his returns and often had to hit them at head height or higher. “It’s not only about the speed. The spin is also difficult to read. Sometimes it’s coming with topspin, sometimes with slice.

Indian Wells Masters LIVE – Nadal Enters Last 8:  “It’s a great victory for me against one of the toughest opponents I can play and I’m very happy. I can’t thank you enough for all the positive energy that I receive every single day here.” Nadal is now 18-0 to start the season and if he can win his fourth title in the California desert, he will move into a tie with Novak Djokovic for the most Masters 1000 titles with 37.

To do so, the 21-time Grand Slam champion will need to defeat another huge server in Australian Nick Kyrgios, who advanced by walkover after Italian Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to illness. Nadal holds a 5-3 lead over Kyrgios in their previous meetings.

Indian Wells Masters LIVE streaming: Rafael Nadal looks to extend unbeaten run, takes on Reilly Opelka for place in Quaterfinals- Follow LIVE Updates