Nadal relaunches in Rome!
Beaten badly by a bluffing Zizou Bergs, the Majorquin came back to within a set of each other on Centre Court. Far from being at his best, 'Rafa' held his nerve to snatch a third set (4-6, 6-3 after 1h43 of play).
Faced with a Belgian playing his cards close to his chest (23 winners, 12 unforced errors), Nadal didn't seem to be in top form this Thursday, even if he didn't seem to be in any physical discomfort and was almost more mobile than in Madrid. As combative as ever, the king of clay is going to have to play and win a perilous final set if he is to earn the right to play one more match in Rome.