Thiem had game point right there and lost it. Nadal is really just too powerful right now, and any groundstrokes Thiem tries to send his way go uncontrolled. It's a problem he's had with some big forehands, but unfortunately one that's happening to every shot he's playing at the moment.
And that's become 2-0. Rafa is on FIRE and his backhand is zooming and zipping at warp speed. Thiem tries a no-look return and ...does NOT look at it well enough.
This is maybe a fraction of the intensity of the previous match if that. We're 1h40 minutes into this match and already looking at maybe another 45 minutes before Nadal takes this home.
Of course we could be wrong. But you know who isn't? Rafa. He can't put a foot wrong here, although he's committed 16 UE so far.
Did someone say cross-court? Did someone also say Thiem? That might have been me...but right now Nadal sends one of those..and two of those, and it's done so deftly and smoothly that it doesn't seem like effort - but an effort 99% of us, tennis players or otherwise, couldn't replicate.
Game Thiem! Nadal still leads here with the break at 3-2, and he's really looking quite relaxed. Like I said...lion, den.. the lion seems pretty content at the moment defending his turf, and how.
Nadal looking solid as he holds his serve to 15 to go 3-1 up. Thiem is showing occasional sparks of brilliance and showed it in this game through his brilliant forehand winner. However, it wasn't optimum to keep the King of Clay at bay.
Another very exciting game with both players showing terrific movement across the court, showing no signs of fatigue. A terrific forehand down the line by Rafa which Thiem could only respond by chipping it back into the net. Rafa makes the first break of the second set and leads 2-1.
Thiem is definitely not going down without a fight. After firing a brilliant ace to make it 40-30, the Austrian executes a delicate drop shot to take the first game of the second set.
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