Rafael Nadal reached his second consecutive Madrid Masters final in Caja Magica in 2010. Rafa overcame a slower start and overpowered fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours and 16 minutes, joining Roger Federer in the title clash.
Nadal defeated Monfils the previous day in straight sets, and Almagro proved to be a much more formidable opponent. The older Spaniard took the opener before Rafa bounced back to score the sixth triumph over his compatriot and move closer to winning all three Masters 1000 titles on clay in the same season!
Both players struggled on the second serve, and it was challenging to find the rhythm, with more unforced errors than winners on their tallies. Rafa got broken three times from six opportunities offered to Nicolas. Nadal seized six out of 12 return chances to control the pace in sets two and three and remain on the title course.
Rafa had a similar number of winners and unforced errors. He forced over 30 mistakes from Nicolas and overcame the opponent in the mid-range exchanges to forge the victory after an early scare. Nicolas was there to challenge Rafa in the shortest and most extended rallies.
However, that was not enough to cross the finish line first, losing steam in sets two and three and concluding his best Masters 1000 run in the semi-final. Nadal sprayed a backhand error in the encounter’s first game to suffer a break at 15.
He pulled it back in the next one with a forehand winner at the net to level the score at 1-1. Firing from all cylinders, Nicolas grabbed a break at love in game three and landed a forehand down the line winner in the next one to open a 3-1 gap.
Not stopping there, Almagro repeated a similar shot to secure another break in game five and forge a healthy 4-1 lead.
Rafael Nadal came from a set down to beat Nicolas Almagro in Madrid 2010.
Rafa pulled one break back in game six to stay in touch before Almagro blasted another powerful forehand for a hold at love in game eight for a 5-3 advantage.
Serving for the set in the tenth game, Nicolas fended off two break chances with brave hitting and forced a mistake from a four-time Roland Garros champion to close the opener in 50 minutes. Nadal repelled two break opportunities with winners in the second set’s third game and brought it home following Almagro’s backhand error to avoid a set and a break deficit.
With momentum on his side, Rafa grabbed a break in the next game and confirmed it with a hold at 15 to gain a 4-1 advantage, looking much better on the court than 25 minutes ago. An incredible defense earned another break for Rafa at 5-2, wrapping up the set in the strongest way and hoping for more in the decider.
Almagro lost the power in his forehand that he had in the opening set, making too many errors and not following Nadal’s pace. Nicolas’ massive forehand mistake cost him a break in the decider’s second game before Rafa placed a forehand winner to forge a 3-0 advantage and move closer to the finish line.
Pushing strong on the return, Nadal missed his chances in games four and six. However, they could not halt his progress, hitting a forehand winner at 4-2 for a hold at love. Nicolas served to stay in the match at 2-5 and got broken again to propel Rafa into his 24th Masters 1000 final at 23!
