Lorenzo Sonego, number 54 in the ATP, and Rafa Nadal, number 4, faces are seen for the first time on the circuit this Saturday, in the third round of Wimbledon 2022. Right-handed, 27 years old and a specialist on clay but with good results on grass, he is one of the talents that has emerged in recent years in Italian tennis. He already knows what it’s like to beat Novak Djokovic and assures that he will come out aggressive in his first confrontation against the Spaniard on a court from which Roger Federer beat him last year.
“I like how he plays, he has a great attitude, good right. He has won two games here, so he is going to be dangerous », he said. Rafael Nadalabout Lorenzo Sonego once their confrontation in the third round of Wimbledon. Having trained together on occasion in Manacor, the Spaniard and the Italian meet for the first time on the circuit, in a duel that will be a new test for the Spaniard against a player who, although he grew up on clay, has good results on grass – a title and a final.
“My serve is good for grass,” he said in 2021 on Eastbourneafter seeing how his tennis adapted well to the green grass -he gave up in the final at the tiebreak of the third set against De Miñaur-. After that tournament, he reached the round of 16 in Wimbledon, round in which he would run into Roger Federer, who lowered him in three straight sets. Now, in this edition, he is leaving a good feeling after beating Kudla in five sets in the first round and going over Hugo Gaston with 7-6, 6-4 and 6-4.
What a SHOW by Gaston and Sonego
🔥🔥🔥
(🎥 @Wimbledon) pic.twitter.com/6AmqlJLOJy
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) July 1, 2022
Sonego only needed to face Rafael Nadal to have measured all the members of the Big-3. Apart from his duel with Federer at Wimbledon -he was also his executioner at Roland Garros 2019-, he has better memories of his confrontations with Novak Djokovic. He won the Serbian in his first duel, in the quarterfinals of Vienna 2020, and made him suffer in Rome last year. Sonego even saved two match points from Djokovic in the second set and forced the third set, although he ended up succumbing in the last.
“I must attack and risk”
Rafael Nadal and Lorenzo Sonego They meet this Friday in the third round of Wimbledon, a new opportunity for the Italian to step on the center court of the All England Lawn Club. The 27-year-old Italian is clear that he will have a very difficult match against the Spaniard. The Balearic continues to advance while seeking to improve sensations as the tournament progresses, faithful to his plan of going from less to more and which has given him such good results. After beating Cerúndolo and Berankis, he will have to face a Sonego who warns that he will go all out with his serve and forehand.
“Physically I think Nadal It’s good because this year he has won all the important tournaments he has played, although it may cost him more on grass compared to clay or cement. My weapons to beat him are surely the serve and the right. I will not have to play defensively at all, but attack and take risks. The ball here jumps less and often stays at hip height: Rafa will try to make me play backwards and I will have to look for deep and fast shots. The evolution of my tennis has led me to look for a way to make the point instead of waiting for it. I was born to defend myself but now I play to attack,” he said. Sonegoanalyzing his options against Nadal.
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