Rafael Nadal vs Felix Auger-Aliassime LIVE: Tennis result from Hurlingham Club as Nadal loses
Follow live updates from the Hurlingham Club exhibition as Rafael Nadal continues his Wimbledon preparations
Follow live scores and updates as Rafael Nadal faces Felix Auger-Aliassime in an exhibition match in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic this afternoon, as the 22-time grand slam champion steps up his Wimbledon preparations. Nadal will take to the court in west London just hours after the main draw for the Championships was made at the All England Club. The Spaniard, who is seeded second for the tournament, was put in the bottom half of the draw and faces Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the opening round.
Nadal received a harder draw than top seed Novak Djokovic and could actually face today’s opponent Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. The Canadian, who is seeded sixth, was handed one of the tougher opening matches against the unseeded but dangerous serve-and-volley player Maxime Cressy, while Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas also landed in their half of the draw.
Nadal returned to grass for the first time in three years on Wednesday as he took down Stan Wawrinka 6-2 6-3. The 37-year-old looked sharp in dismissing the three-time grand slam champion Wawrinka and showed no signs of the foot problems that put his participation at Wimbledon in doubt. Auger-Aliassime, meanwhile, will look to improve after he was thrashed by Novak Djokovic in the other match of the day. Nadal was pushed to five sets by Auger-Aliassime in their last meeting at the French Open last month.
Follow for live scores and updates from Hurlingham Club:
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 5-4 Auger-Aliassime*
Auger-Aliassime closes out the next game with yet another ace. He has the uncanny ability to pull these out of the bag when he needs them and at 40-30 wins the game in style.
Nadal will serve for the set though. This next game is huge for Auger-Aliassime, if he wins it he could go on to win the match.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 5-3 Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime fights back and wins the next two points to put a bit of pressure on Nadal. The Spaniard answers it with a nice backhand slice before following up with a powerful forehand winner that the Canadian skews into the stands.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 4-3 Auger-Aliassime
Nadal has picked it up in open play. A couple of backhands to the middle of the court to set the tone before a well guided forehand over to the left that Auger-Aliassime hooks wide.
15-0.
The next point goes the way of the Spaniard as well.
30-0.
A serve and sprint to the net follows with Nadal meeting the return on the volley and smoking it away from Auger-Aliassime.
40-0.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 4-3 Auger-Aliassime*
It’s a well measured game from Auger-Aliassime who keeps himself in the set with a hold of serve. He’s going to need to break Nadal at some point or else this match will be heading into a third set.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 4-2 Auger-Aliassime
Oh yes he can. Nadal wins the game to love and takes a two game lead in the second set. This is his set to lose now. How will Auger-Aliassime respond?
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 3-2 Auger-Aliassime
That is the first time either man has had the chance of a break of serve in the whole match. Nadal compounds his advantage with two heavy, quick serves in the next game to move 30-0 ahead.
Can he see it out of complete the break?
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 3-2 Auger-Aliassime*
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Is that a break of serve I see?
Yes it is. Rafa Nadal takes the lead in the second set.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 2-2 Auger-Aliassime
Game Nadal. Auger-Aliassime must believe that he can take this match away from the Spaniard. He’s engaging in rallies more off Nadal’s serve than Nadal is off his.
Still the 36-year-old is a wily character and knows when to push his own advantage. There still hasn’t been a break point in this game.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 1-2 Auger-Aliassime*
He’s very good. At deuce Auger-Aliassime fizzes down an ace then follows it up with a sharp serve to Nadal’s backhand. The Spaniard manages to get it back but there’s no power on the ball and Auger-Aliassime takes advantage with a powerful stroke to the body. Nadal gets his racquet there but can only defend it and the ball doesn’t get over the net.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 1-1 Auger-Aliassime*
A rare double fault from Auger-Aliassime - his second of the match - gives Rafa Nadal a sniff of a breaking opportunity. Nadal forces the Canadian into the right hand corner and wins the next point when Auger-Aliassime goes too long.
Deuce.
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