Rafael Nadal wins in Madrid, defeats Pedro Cachin to reach fourth round

Nadal swiftly raced out to a 5-1 lead, and was only slowed by the combination of a valiant effort by Cachin and a distressed spectator who appeared in danger of a medical emergency. Once play resumed, Nadal nonetheless scored a third break to take the opening set and start the second on his terms.

Cachin came alive from there, taking a double-break lead of his own as Nadal’s game suddenly lacked the punch it had in 46-minute first set. Nadal clawed one of the breaks back but couldn’t level in spite of a 0-30 lead in the eighth game and Cachin was soon serving for the set.

As nerves set in for Cachin, Nadal took full advantage and saved two set points through a four-deuce marathon, converting his third break chance of the game to even the set at five games apiece.

Nerves continued to affect both men as the set approached a conclusion, trading two more breaks to force a tiebreaker.

Though Cachin twice failed to serve out the second set, the 29-year-old managed a bright start to the Sudden Death, opening with a mini-break and winning the first three points. Hitting through Nadal’s famous defense, he struck a backhand into the open court for a second mini-break with the change of ends on the horizon.

Nadal pulled off yet another comeback from there, wrongfooting Cachin with a powerful overhead to tie the breaker back up. In a repeat of the last few games, the pair traded more mini-breaks before Cachin served his way to a third set point. This time, Cachin made no mistakes, nailing a passing shot to take the match into a decider.

Undaunted, Nadal began the third set with a break of his own and threatened a double break before Cachin was able to save two break points and tie the match at two games all. Nadal recovered in time to take yet another lead, putting down a love hold to move within two games of victory, and only improved as the match hit the three hour mark.

Opening the ninth game with a searing forehand cross court, he moved 0-30 with a forehand return winner and outfoxed Cachin at net to earn his first match point. With the finish line in sight, Nadal made no mistakes as the last Cachin forehand floated long. In all, he played a clean match with 36 winners to 32 unforced errors.

Nadal obliged Cachin's request for a souvenir—one of his shirts—after the match.

Waiting for Nadal in the Round of 16 is No. 30 seed Jiri Lehecka; the 22-year-old edged past Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro, who shocked No. 6 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, in straight sets.