Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal wasted little time in booking his place in the Wimbledon fourth round for Saturday, racing past Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

"He's a complete player with a lot of great things, and I need to keep going the way that I played today: playing aggressive and playing with the right energy. Nadal flew out of the blocks against Sonego in their first ATP Head2Head meeting, pulling the Italian from corner to corner with his heavy forehand. With Nadal leading 4-2, the roof was closed due to fading light. With his foot on the gas, Nadal continued to dictate in the third set, flattening out his backhand to cause Sonego more trouble. "It was probably my best match without a doubt here at The Championships against the most difficult player I have faced yet,” Nadal said in his on-court interview. The 36-year-old blasted the ball past Sonego from all angles, while demonstrating deft touches at the net to advance after two hours and four minutes.

Rafael Nadal cruised into the last 16 of Wimbledon with a 6-1 6-2 6-4 victory over Lorenzo Sonego on Centre Court.

Last year he made the fourth round and this year he got a good result again so I think he’s got a great future here." I think he’s a great player here on grass. From the bottom of my heart I didn’t mean it in a negative way. "I feel very sorry if I bothered him. "I have been able to raise my level a lot [so I’m] super happy about that. The 36-year-old set the tone for the match with a venomous backhand and a couple of volleys as he held to love in consecutive service games, breaking his opponent in just the third game after Sonego overhit a forehand.

Rafael Nadal made light work of Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 to keep his bid for a third Wimbledon title well and truly on track.

Nobody is betting against a 60th meeting between the 35-year-old Serb and his old Spanish friend in the final here next weekend. It will be immensely difficult on the fast-wearing Wimbledon grass, where he has won only twice, in 2008 and 2010 – and he was out for four months last year hobbling into the Australian Open in January unsure if he could even finish the fortnight. Nadal did not hide his frustration before breaking back and serving out the match in a little over two hours.

Rafael Nadal apologised to opponent Lorenzo Sonego after a heated discussion at the net following the Spaniard's three-set Centre Court win.

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The 22-time Grand Slam champion beat the Italian player on Centre Court. "It's been my best match at the championship so far, against the most difficult player ...

I should not call him on the net," Nadal said after the match. After that, there are other things during the match I do not what to comment as we have talked in the locker room. "So I apologize for that. And then exchanged further words after Nadal served out the match. "It's been my best match at the championship so far, against the most difficult player I've faced at this level," Nadal told the crowd after the match. I have to say I was wrong.

Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, said Ricardas Berankis was not an easy opponent and admitted he needs to improve if he wants to go far at ...

Kenny Ducey continued by describing the challenging opposition Nadal will encounter if he advances to the quarterfinals. I think there was a good level of tennis in that fourth set. Down two sets, Berankis began the third set with a break and then held serve for the rest of the set to force a fourth set. "Every day is a challenge, that's the truth. But I think the fourth set was much better. Nadal also struggled in his Wimbledon debut, as he needed four sets to beat Francisco Cerundolo.

Lorenzo Sonego was angry with Nadal after losing to him in straight sets in round-three action at Wimbledon, saying the Spaniard had no right to summon him ...

'Who the heck does he think he is to tell Sonego to stop grunting? 'My intention was never to bother him at all. This Rafa guy is so full of himself, but I'm supposed to believe he's humble? 'I have to say that I was wrong. I recognise that. 'So I apologise for that.

The Spaniard made it to the second week after a routine straight-sets win, but the match was overshadowed by their long dialogue at the net late in the ...

Just to tell (him) one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that’s it. “I have to say that I was wrong. I apologise for that. I should not (have) called him to the net. That ticking off was followed up by another lengthy exchange at the net once Nadal had wrapped up the win, with a visibly upset Sonego trying to understand exactly what he had done wrong. Playing Rafael Nadal on clay is considered to be one of the most frustrating challenges in tennis.

The highest seed left in Nadal's side of the Wimbledon draw is Taylor Fritz, although Nick Kyrgios could be a potential semi-final opponent.

“I did a lot of things much better than the previous days. “He didn’t play so many matches on grass the last couple of years. I should not call him on the net, so I apologise for that. He added in his press conference: “I have to say that I was wrong. “I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. I feel really bad now if I bothered him so I feel sorry for that.

Rafael Nadal has sent a message to his great rival Roger Federer, as the Spaniard caused a storm during his third round victory over Lorenzo Sonego.

He went on: “We can't create a story just about Wimbledon. I think Roger Federer is important in every single tournament. This then led to the roof being closed, which left Nadal frustrated after being keen to get the job done. The Spanish star did however then re-composed himself by winning the final two games to secure a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

RAFAEL NADAL was locked in an odd exchange at the end of his win over Lorenzo Sonego as he spoke to the Italian at the net.

After the win, Nadal said: “Not spicy at all - I just from the bottom of my heart I didn't make it in a negative way I feel sorry if I bothered him but I did it in a right way. That's it - I will talk to him after but this is not a problem.” Nadal defeated Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4 to secure his first straight sets win of this year’s Championships after having dropped a set in each of his first two matches.

His message comes less than a month after Sainz branded Nadal the “best” tennis player following his record-extending 14th French Open and 22nd Grand Slam title ...

I recognise that.” The tennis icon himself is also in the country for Wimbledon, where he will play his fourth-round match on Monday. Nadal quickly apologised in his post-match press conference as he said: ”Well, first of all, I have to say that I was wrong.