It was worth the wait as Rafael Nadal finally discovered his scintillating best to thrill Wimbledon on Saturday evening. But a breathtaking display, discarding Lorenzo Sonego (6-1, 6-2, 7-6) in a little over two hours, ended with simmering tension between the players. A blushing Nadal swiftly played down any lingering animosity towards the Italian, refuting claims of a “spicy” edge to the match and conceding he was “sorry if I bothered him”.
But the momentary fallout should not cloud what was a statement victory and enough to spark excitement at an epic final with favourite Novak Djokovic. The Serbian’s form has been ominous, but Nadal has well and truly shaken off the rust. Indeed, he has been quick to emphasise his three-year absence from SW19 after each round, conscious of the challenge to adjust.
