Alex de Minaur has missed out on the chance of a lifetime to beat Rafael Nadal on clay in successive tournaments, blown away by the rejuvenated, emotionally-charged Spanish great in the Madrid Open.
The Australian No.1, looking a shadow of the player who blitzed Nadal in Barcelona 10 days earlier, seemed tight and a mite distracted in the face of passionate support for the home idol in the Caja Magica on Saturday as he succumbed 7-6 (8-6) 6-3 in the second round.
But for 37-year-old Nadal, cheered by Spanish king Felipe VI and footballing royalty Zinedine Zidane, there were moments of old purple perfection as he blasted spectacular winners past the fleet Sydneysider in a two-hour reminder of why no-one can write him off on the surface he adores.
