Barty into final of Madrid Open, Nadal beats Popyrin to reach quarters

Madrid: Top-ranked Ash Barty cruised into the final with a 6-4, 6-3 win over wild-card entry Paula Badosa, the first Spanish woman to reach the semifinals in Madrid.

“I know it’s been a big tournament for her, she’s played an exceptional level of tennis,” Barty said.

“She served particularly well, being able to control the court with her forehand. I think that was a challenge today. I was trying to neutralise that as best I could.”

Ash Barty plays a backhand during her third round match against Paula Badosa of Spain.Credit:

Badosa had been the only opponent to defeat Barty since February. Barty has won 16 straight matches on clay and will be playing in her fourth final this year, having won the previous three.

Australian Alexei Popyrin did not have as much luck on Thursday, beaten by Rafael Nadal.

Nadal showed signs he was getting closer to his best form on clay as he defeated Popyrin 6-3, 6-3 to make it to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Nadal overcame eight aces and saved five break points against the Australian. The five-time Madrid champion cruised past Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz in the second round on Wednesday.

“There is a lot of young, good players. (It’s) something normal that is happening,” said Nadal, who at 34 is 13 years older than Popyrin.

Rafael Nadal got through another young opponent and showed signs he was getting closer to his best form on clay.Credit:

“And, yeah, I’m excited that at my age I am able to keep playing against all of them. They are good. They are talented. They have a great future. For me it’s amazing to be where I am with my age competing with them still.”

Nadal struggled at times against the aggressive style of the 76th-ranked Popyrin but was able to stay in control for most of the match on the Magic Box centre court.

“I knew he was coming with confidence, he has this energy that the young players have,” Nadal said. “From what I could do, it was a good match, and I’m happy to make it to the quarterfinals again here.”

Third-ranked Daniil Medvedev lost to Cristian Garin 6-4, 6-7 (2), 6-1. The Chilean broke serve twice in the third set to reach his second Masters 1000 quarterfinal.

Earlier, US Open champion Dominic Thiem reached the last eight by defeating Alex de Minaur 7-6 (7), 6-4. The third-seeded Austrian is playing in his first tournament since taking a few weeks off after a slow start to his year.

AP

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