Nadal leaves his mark against Goffin after saving four match points

There was a reliable Nadal, even with a certain self-sufficiency, until he wasted the first of his four match points, 5-3 at rest in the second set, and another, more erratic and fatigued from then on, already weighed down by another

in limbo, this one at

5-4 and his serve, after a great inverted forehand by David Goffin.

From walking with a loose marker, to governing it with authority, he came to see victory compromised, among other reasons, and it should not be ignored either, because the Belgian is a good tennis player, very capable of taking advantage of any loophole that may be offered.

In the end, the proud and irreducible champion emerged to achieve the victory by 6-3, 5-7 and 7-6 (9), after three hours and nine minutes and saving the four

which his adversary also had

Without even being the best Nadal, the one who lifted an impossible final at the Australian Open, the Spaniard retains his seal of distinction.

He knows how to move like few others on the wire and his reputation in this type of situation instills fear in his opponents.

It was felt by Goffin, who missed a last forehand after putting in a magnificent match.

With clear ideas, opening the track with the backhand cross or with the inverted forehand on Nadal's

, the champion this year in Marrakech discussed the triumph of a player who, this time, suffered from the lack of rhythm typical of the person who was playing his second match on the clay tour after almost six weeks injured.

Going by his words after the win against Kecmanovic in one hour and 55 minutes, this experience, in addition to the extra confidence, will also have its value in the set-up for the great goal of each season, Roland Garros.

This time he needed more than three hours to get rid of his elusive rival.

five-time champion

There are now 16 appearances in the quarterfinals at the Mutua Madrid Open, a tournament that he has endorsed on five occasions

the first of which was in 2005, when it was still played at the Madrid Arena, indoors and on fast surfaces.

Seventeen years later, fresh from an injury, today's number 4 in the world will face the winner of the match between Carlos Alcaraz and Cameron Norrie, which takes place on Thursday night.

Goffin is a dynamic player, intuitive and a joy to watch.

He possesses a talent for playing counterfeit and is not lacking in imagination.

Recent winner in Marrakech of the sixth title of his career, the 31-year-old Belgian has fallen to 60th place in the ranking after rising to 7th five years ago.

Still, in theory he was an easy opponent for Nadal, who had beaten him in all four of their clay-court meetings.

It didn't turn out that way at all.

When the 13-time Roland Garros champion seemed to have victory in hand, even with two first match points, Goffin took the prize for fluid and consistent tennis from him, leveling at a set.

Nadal still drags some hindrances, such as errors in acceleration shots, which warn that the machinery is not yet fully greased.

Logical, and the protagonist admitted it after beating Kecmanovic in his debut.

He blames himself for a long backhand on the first match point to return to Goffin, with it 5-3 on his side.

He will also not be able to lock in the next game, in which he will lose his serve after having another

It was the Belgian, in a brilliant flood, who chained four consecutive games and took the partial, to the surprise of almost everyone.

In a very even third set, Goffin came back from 4-1 down in the tiebreak and chained five points that placed him a stroke from the shore. Inconclusive reaction in a succession of alternatives that unleashed something close to ecstasy in the Magic Box.

Nadal did not disappoint this time either, to the enthusiasm of the enraged fans.

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