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:
Auger-Aliassime beats Nadal after tie break at Hurlingham
That was a cracking match between Rafael Nadal and Felix Auger-Aliassime. They pair have been drawn in the same side of the Wimbledon draw and could play each other again if they both reach the quarter-final stage.
Nadal was looking to take more control of the match as it went on but Auger-Aliassime had the power and accuracy to take advantage of the deciding tie-breaker.
I don’t think the outcome would be the same over five-sets at Wimbledon.
Auger-Aliassime beats Nadal after tie break at Hurlingham
A quite competitive match ends in victory for Felix Auger-Aliassime who says that despite this match being an exhibition he went out there to win. After the match he said:
“We’re competitors we try to win whenever we can, even when practicing for major tournaments. He [Rafael Nadal] is a great inspiration to me, it’s a pleasure and priviledge to get to play him.
“I had a great week, so thank you and maybe see you next year.”
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 0-1 (3-10) Auger-Aliassime
Game, set and match to Felix Auger-Aliassime!
Fittingly he seals the tie break with an ace and takes the victory over Rafael Nadal.
18 aces in total for the Canadian. Incredible stuff.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 3-8 Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime finally errs and finds the net when trying to return Nadal’s serve. He fizzes a forehand wide of the mark in the next rally too.
Can Nadal get back into the tie break?
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 1-7 Auger-Aliassime*
The 21-year-old take both points off Nadal’s serve and forces the Spaniard too long.
The crowd are trying to cheer on Rafa Nadal but he’s being outdone by the young Canadian.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 1-3 Auger-Aliassime*
This is more exciting. Auger-Aliassime won the tie break in the first set and has stormed into the lead here. He serves one up to Nadal’s forehand but the Spaniard hooks it over the back of the court and looks frustrated with himself.
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 0-0 Auger-Aliassime*
The match isn’t going to be decided by a third set but a tie break instead!
Nadal 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 0-0 Auger-Aliassime*
Even before a ball was served there was a sense that this match would go all the way. Nadal and Auger-Aliassime fought out a five-set thriller at the French Open and look pretty well matched on court.
Nadal is the only one to have earned a break point so far and he took it to claim the second set. Expect another close set coming up.
Nadal* 6-7 (6-8), 6-4 Auger-Aliassime
Game and set Nadal! Auger-Aliassime sends another return over the back of the court before Nadal fires down a second ace of the game.
He’s only had four in total all match.
Into the third set we go.
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