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* 2-2 Auger-Aliassime
Very good from Auger-Aliassime.
He gets back Nadal’s serve and steps into the centre of the court to meet the return. It bounces nicely for a forehand winner and he smokes it to the right back corner. Nadal thinks about chasing it down but gives up knowing that’s a winning shot.
15-15.
Nadal 2-2 Auger-Aliassime*
No nonsense from the 21-year-old who closes out the game to draw level. No break points for either player just yet.
Nadal 2-1 Auger-Aliassime*
Nadal is struggling with his range against Auger-Aliassime’s serve. The Spaniard is starting to get the serve back into play but twice he goes long and gives away the point.
40-0 already in this game.
Nadal* 2-1 Auger-Aliassime
After a couple errors to get Auger-Aliassime back into the game at 30-30, Rafa holds his serve and moves into the lead in the first set.
There’s a quick break as the players change ends and Nadal eagerly jogs back out onto court.
Nadal* 1-1 Auger-Aliassime
The sunshine is trying to break through the greyish clouds and there’s a bit a wind around the court.
Nadal fizzes a serve down the centre line and Auger-Aliassime does well to chip a backhanded effort over the net. Nadal has time to run around the ball and prepare for a forehand smash but he smokes it into the net trying to go back across court.
30-15.
Nadal 1-1 Auger-Aliassime*
Very nice! Needing just a point to win the game Auger-Aliassime is drawn into a rally when Nadal camped on the baseline. The Spaniard utlisies his forehand but the Canadian steps up to the net and volleys one into the turf to claim the win.
Nadal 1-0 Auger-Aliassime*
Solid start from Felix Auger-Aliassime as he welcomes Nadal to his service game with consecutive aces! 30-0.
When Rafa does get his return back he hooks it over the back of court and out of play.
Nadal* 1-0 Auger-Aliassime
Nadal looks it good touch. At 40-0 up he faults on his first serve and allows Auger-Aliassime to return the second serve to the baseline. Nadal drops back and rolls his wrist over a strike down the line to win the point and the game.
Nadal* 0-0 Auger-Aliassime
Here we go. Rafael Nadal is serving the first game of the first set. He sends his serve to Felix Auger-Aliassime’s right hand then follows it up with a shot to the other side of court. The Canadian sprints across to return and Nadal drops short. Another dart across court for the 21-year-old sees him stretch for the ball but he isn’t able to lift it over the net.
15-0.
Nadal vs Auger-Aliassime
The court side announcer reads out the player’s profiles and explains that Hurlingham is the only grass court warm-up Nadal is doing before Wimbledon.
He waves to the crowd as she says this and they respond with cheers for the French Open champion.
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