 "Rafael Nadal gifts Madrid Open opponent his shirt as souvenir: 'Dream come true'")
Pedro Cachin did not walk away the victor against Rafael Nadal on Monday from Madrid Open but he did get souvenir of a lifetime. The Argentine tennis player beamed as he walked off the court having taken the Spaniard to three sets in a nearly three hour match.
World No. 91 Cachin pushed Nadal to three sets, coming from a set down, before falling short. Nadal, working his way towards full fitness and potentially play the French Open, won 6-1, 6-7, 6-3 . The Spaniard endured a topsy turvy second set with chances squandered despite numerous openings.
At the net after the match, Cachin worked up the nerve to ask the 22-time Grand Slam winner for a memento of their epic match. “Thank you very much! You’ve made my dream come true, thank you,” Cachin gushed as he shook hands with Nadal. “I don’t know if this is protocol or not, but I wanted to ask you, could I keep your shirt or a towel or something?”
A shirt, headband and hug for @pecachin1 🎁@RafaelNadal #MMOPEN https://t.co/7XTCV3HKhH pic.twitter.com/BqInPlrsL9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 29, 2024
The ultimate sportsman 🥹
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 29, 2024
Nadal goes over to give Cachin a hug after their 3-hour thriller 🤝@RafaelNadal #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/edOE0RUAP0
Nadal agreed, and after celebrating in front of a packed arena, he grabbed a fresh shirt from his kit bag and took it to Cachin: “Yes, of course! I’ll give you one now. Good luck with everything.”
With chants of “Rafa, Rafa” on Court Manolo Santana, the pair shared another hug before wishing each other luck.
“It’s beautiful,” Cachin shared on Instagram later as he posted a photo of Nadal’s purple shirt. “THANK YOU Rafa, it was a dream.”
Nadal, on the mend since picking up an injury in January, seems to have finally hit his stride in Madrid where he’s found some of the best tennis on his farewell tour. He’s thrilled the home crowd with wins over Darwin Blanch, Alex de Minaur and Cachin to move into the fourth round where he will face Jiri Lehecka.
The 37-year-old has now played three matches at the same tournament for the second time this season, and the first time he’s won three in a row.
“I need to find a way to be able to play days in a row and still be competitive,” Nadal told press after the match. “I don’t know if I am in that moment yet. Let’s see what can happen tomorrow. But I’m gonna try. I’m gonna do things the right way to try to be ready for tomorrow.
“So I cannot (be concerned) at all. Just happy to be on court again tomorrow hopefully and hope to be ready.”
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