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), 0-1 Auger-Aliassime
Great defensive work at the net from Rafael Nadal.
Auger-Aliassime twice tries to smash the ball past him and both times Nadal dinks it back. The second is a good drop shot that Aguer-Aliassime tries to backhand over the net but the ball clips the top and lands on his side of court.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 0-1 Auger-Aliassime*
Picking up where he left off in the first set Auger-Aliassime takes the first game of the second in a hold of serve.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 0-0 Auger-Aliassime*
Auger-Aliassime kicks off the second set and wins the first point when the ball hits the rim of Nadal’s racquet and goes nowhere. The Canadian quickly moves to 30-0 but then fails to land a volley as he steps up to the net and gives a point back.
30-15.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 0-0 Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime sent down 13 aces in that set compared to Nadal’s one including one to finish off the tie break. Nadal has been strong on his own first serve but he’s losing points whenever he’s not landed it.
Auger-Aliassime has been very impressive.
Nadal* 6-6 Auger-Aliassime
6-6 in the tie break with Nadal to serve. Will this set ever end? Whoever loses it will feel a bit gutted.
Oh chance for Felix Auger-Aliassime as Nadal double faults and the serve passes to him. It’s an ace!
Auger-Aliassime takes the first set!
Nadal 6-6 Auger-Aliassime*
5-4 to Auger-Aliassime. Nadal gave a point away on his first serve to put the youngster firmly in control of the tie break but responded well. A sharp serve to the forehand before a smashing winner.
Nadal 6-6 Auger-Aliassime*
2-1 to Auger-Aliassime. ‘Come on Rafa!’ are the cries from the crowd and Nadal takes the next point when his opponent fires a return of serve over the back of court.
Lovely! Nadal faults and lands a second serve that Auger-Aliassime knocks back to him. The Spaniard runs round the ball and hooks a forehand over to the right side of court where the Canadian is waiting. He plants and drills a two-handed backhand down the line as Nadal moves in court.
3-2 to Auger-Aliassime.
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