Wimbledon 2022: I need to improve, admits Rafael Nadal after second-round win against Ricardas Berankis

 

Number two seed Rafael Nadal had to once again battle hard in the second round but he was able to get past Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 on Centre Court on Thursday to make his way into the third round of ongoing Wimbledon 2022.

Nadal won the first two sets rather convincingly but he was pushed to the edge in the third set by his opponent. The Spaniard wasn’t at his best but he was able to get through in three hours and two minutes.

Nadal was broken twice by Berankis but once again he won the crucial points. The veteran was more clinical and aggressive in the fourth set as he took a 3-0 lead before rain played a bit of a killjoy.

Nadal said it is always a challenge to play against the world’s best players but he is happy to make his way into the third round.

“Every day is a challenge, that’s the truth. All the opponents are difficult. We are playing against the best players of the world and especially even in these conditions, it will be more [difficult]. I didn’t play much on grass for the past three years,” Nadal said in his on-court interview. “Every day is an opportunity to improve and today I’m through, so that gives me the chance to keep going. [I am] very happy for that.”

Nadal feels he needs to improve but he was happy with his game in the fourth set as he brought his best.

“I need to improve. But I think the fourth set was much better. I think it was a good level of tennis in that fourth set. The serve worked much better,” Nadal said.

“In the end, I was able to play a little bit more aggressive with the forehand. At the beginning, it was too many mistakes, but that’s a process. It’s important for me to accept that things are not perfect and [that I need to] just keep working, being humble and accept the challenge.”

There is no doubt that Nadal will need to be at the top of his game in the upcoming rounds as the level of opponents will automatically increase. The Spaniard will next face 27th seed Lorenzo Sonego in the third round on Friday.