Wimbledon 2018, Men's Singles, Pre-quarterfinal: Rafael Nadal vs Jiri Vesely, Live Match Updates

Nadal def Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 53 minutes to enter the quarter-finals

Updated: 09 July 2018 23:10 IST - Published: 09 July 2018 20:39 IST

And that brings us to the end of our live coverage of this match. Keep following Sportskeeda for all the latest updates from Wimbledon.

Goodnight!

Let's not think of so far ahead, as each round now will get far tougher than the previous one. We are now into the business end of this tournament.

Rafa will next take on the winner of the fourth round between Del Potro and Simon for a place in the semi-finals.

Rafa is surely getting better and better with every match. Can making it through to the last-eight after seven long years inspire him to go all the way?

And most importantly, can we have that fourth Wimbledon final between everybody's beloved 'Fedal' that the world is waiting for?

One hour and 53 minutes later...@RafaelNadal books his quarter-final spot

Will the world No.1 make it three #Wimbledon titles this year? pic.twitter.com/gGxPyIw8Nv
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2018

For the first time since 2011, @RafaelNadal has reached the quarter-finals at #Wimbledon

He beats Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to advance 👏 pic.twitter.com/7QXs2vxyO7
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 9, 2018

Nadal has entered the quarter-finals of Wimbledon for the first time since reaching the 2011 final. It has been a long wait of SEVEN YEARS!!!!!!!

Final score: Nadal def Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in 1 hour 53 minutes to enter the quarter-finals!!!!

VESELY CRACKS UNDER PRESSURE AND HIS BACKHANDS JUST LOST THEIR WAY!

AFTER TWO BACKHAND UNFORCED ERRORS FROM VESELY, RAFA NADAL WINS THE MATCH!!!

Back to back aces, and Vesely has a game point of his own.

And Vesely is showing his resilience here....he SAVES TWO MATCH POINTS!!!!

The last one he saved with an ace!

Too many unforced errors from Vesely brighten up Rafa's chances.

It is deuce on the Vesely serve

And Rafa follows it up with a deadly love service game.

He leads 5-4 and is now one game away from winning the match.

Vesely once more responds well and holds his serve.

The two are locked at 4-4 now

Rafa was put to a stern test and made a couple of errors off his backhand.

But he still manages to pull through.

Rafa holds and leads 4-3

And RAFA BREAKS, JUST LIKE YOU EXPECTED!

IT IS 3-3

Champions always find a way to rise under pressure. And that is exactly what Rafa is trying to do now.

Nadal has TWO BREAK POINTS ON THE VESELY SERVE!!!!!

AND RAFA'S FOREHAND CONTINUES TO BE SHABBY! ANOTHER ERROR AND THE BREAK GOES TO VESELY!!!!

Vesely is now up 3-2

Rafa faces some TROUBLE here!

Vesely has a break point for the first time in this match as Rafa makes a forehand error

The Vesely serve has so far withstood all resistance in this set.

He gets the job done and levels the score 2-2

No service break so far and Rafa just held his serve to love to lead 2-1

He is surely waiting for the right time to pounce on the Vesely serve.

THIRD SET

Rafa makes a thunderous start to Set 3 and has a love hold.

He is up 1-0

Nadal oozes brilliance in his return game and BREAKS AGAIN to take the next game and the second set with it, as well.

Rafa now up 6-3, 6-3

Vesely could hardly pose any threat to the Spaniard. Rafa just prances around the court and comes up with a series of winners to take the game.

Rafa now cruising at 5-3

Vesely comes up with a polished service game and holds his serve to 15.

He now trails by just one game at 3-4

With a smash and a backhand winner, Nadal gets the job done. He slams the door on Vesely and wins the service game!

Nadal leads 4-2

Rafa starts with an ace, but is faltering now.

A double fault and a forehand error made it difficult for him.

It is deuce on the Nadal serve!

Rafa's blazing forehand SHOWS UP and it CRUSHES Vesely!

Rafa gets the BREAK and goes up to 3-2

Rafa doesn't need much time to level the scores at 2-2 and he has now gone up 30-0 on the Vesely serve.

Can he get the vital break here?

Under pressure from Rafa's barrage of returns, Vesely fumbled and made a lot of unforced errors.

Rafa forced a deuce, but Vesely was able to regroup after that and averted early disaster.

Vesely holds and leads 2-1

Rafa holds his serve equally impressively and now the pressure is back on Vesely

1-1

SECOND SET

It's a much better start to the second set from the young Czech player.

He holds his serve and opens up a 1-0 lead.

Rafa has ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM IN SERVING OUT THE SET!

With a beautiful forehand volley winner, he takes cares of business! He gets the first set 6-3

Vesely holds his serve to 15 and now Rafa will serve for the first set at 5-3

Rafa once more does very well on his service game and hasn't allowed the young Czech to settle into this match.

He holds his serve and now leads 5-2

Vesely regroups and serves much better to hold his service game

Vesely now trails Nadal 2-4

Rafa consolidates the break with a quickfire service game, where he held his serve to love.

Rafa is now up 4-1

Vesely's forehand completely broke down under pressure, and then his serve gave way. He double faulted on break point and now Nadal has the first BREAK of the match!!!!!

3-1 lead for Rafa

Rafa has upped the intensity on his returns and is making Vesely spray unforced errors all over the place.

It is 30-30 on the Vesely serve

Rafa shows an array of shots that included forehand winner, backhand volley to hold his service game.

He now leads 2-1

Vesely also had a breezy opening game and quickly held his serve.

It is 1-1

Rafa Nadal started off the proceedings and held his serve to love.

Pretty comfortable opening game for the former champion.

1-0

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's live coverage of the Wimbledon from the All England Club. World No.1 Rafael Nadal, who is looking to reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011, meets Jiri Vesely in the fourth round today.

Nadal, who arrived at Wimbledon on the back of his seventeenth Slam at the French Open, has looked in imperious form so far this year. But Vesely would not be the first big-hitting Czech to cause Nadal problems on Centre Court at Wimbledon.

Nadal and Vesely have met just once previously, facing off three years ago in Hamburg on clay and of course, it was the Spaniard won that one in straight sets 6-4 7-6. On paper, he is the frontrunner. But, he will have to be on his guard against the power of Vesely. The big Czech has a monstrous serve and plenty of forehand power of his own and has torn down the two seeds in the first week.

Who will come out on top? Stay tuned for all LIVE updates.