Rafael Nadal: Stat suggests five-time Madrid Open champion is returning to his best

Rafael Nadal needed three sets on Monday to defeat Pedro Cachin 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-3 to reach the fourth round at the Madrid Open for the first time since 2022. 

The Spaniard easily claimed the first set before losing the second in the tiebreak but recovered to claim the deciding third against his Argentinian opponent. 

The five-time champion objectively assessed his performance in the three-hour battle. 

“Some moments were good, some moments not good, but I found a way to go through," said the 22-time Slam champion. "In the third set, even with some mistakes, I was able to be a little more unpredictable and that probably changed the match.

“I am enjoying. Let's see how I wake up tomorrow. I don't know. Day by day I am enjoying playing at home, it means everything to me. I am trying my best to keep dreaming. 

“Tomorrow is another day to keep dreaming. To keep playing in front of this amazing crowd and to me that means everything."

The Spaniard has played commendably since the clay season began, slowly finding his feet after injury issues that plagued him for most of 2023 and the start of the current campaign. 

According to Opta, Nadal has won three ATP matches in succession for the first time since the 2022 US Open, defeating Darwin Blanch, Alex de Minaur and Cachin at the Madrid Open. 

Nadal faces Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round, keen to advance to a 10th consecutive quarter-final in Madrid.