Rafael Nadal survives scare to win his opening match in Indian Wells

Radek Stepanek gave it his all to push Nadal to the brink

The next game was a crucial one for the Spaniard, and it was critical that he consolidated the break to give himself a chance. And he did just that, turning the tables on Stepanek and forcing him to run between extremes with his well-placed forehands as he took a 4-2 lead.

Stepanek started showing signs of vulnerability for the first time as he was making errors more often than usual. But he brought his game together and held serve, making it 3-4.

Nadal’s serve continued to bother him, and Stepanek took full advantage of his second serves, engaging in long rallies and finding space to fire a forehand. But Nadal ensured he wouldn’t give him a look as he took the game to lead 5-3.

Some brilliant tennis followed in the next game. The Mallorca native hit two scintillating passing shots and didn’t allow Stepanek to come to the net, but Stepanek anticipated well and managed to hold on, forcing Nadal to serve for the set.

It was then that Nadal produced his best game of the match so far. He attacked Stepanek’s backhand and in one point, broke it down completely. He had to wait before closing the set though, as Stepanek made two lobbed returns. But he couldn’t quite pull off the third effectively enough, and Nadal took the set with an overhead smash.

Nadal continued to rise as he got himself to break point in the opening game of the third set. He then forced an error off Stepanek’s racquet and got the early break.

Just when it looked like Nadal was going to roll away with the match, Stepanek bounced back. He took the game to Nadal and didn’t give him any easy points as he got the break back immediately, aided by Nadal’s errors.

It was a tight battle from there on. Both players held serve without too much drama up to 3-2, when things went bad for Nadal again.

His first serve deserted him as Stepanek had a look at three break points. Nadal saved one with a superb serve, the second with an ace and the third, with the longest rally of the match. He controlled the point with such exquisite shot making that even the best of Stepanek’s shots couldn’t hurt him. It was a sign of how important that point was, that Nadal celebrated with a pirouetted fist pump, with Larry Ellison raising his arms in the stands. Nadal held on for 3-3.

As the match stretched into its third hour, Stepanek showed no signs of slowing down, and seemed prepared to take the fight till the finish. Nadal finally held serve comfortably in the set as the match reached its climax.

There still didn’t seem to be any gaps that Nadal could exploit in Stepanek’s service game. Soon it was 5-4, leaving Nadal serving to stay in the match. But Nadal played a clutch game to even out the set, even though his double faults continued to torment him.

It was Stepanek’s turn to hold now, but the World No. 1 had other ideas. He played two magnificent points, successfully defusing Stepanek’s ploy to come to the net by going behind him and then finishing with an overhead smash. He reached break point and a second serve, but Stepanek produced a fantastic forehand down the line to save it.

Nadal followed that with an amazing backhand return winner to get to a second break point, which Stepanek saved, and a third, at which Nadal sailed the return wide. He then reached his fourth break point, and this time he made no mistake, as he forced Stepanek to hit long.

The next game Nadal was shaky again though, opening the game with a double fault. He got one back with a stuttering volley at the net, and then stretched Stepanek by hitting an angled forehand down the line. He finally won the match with a solid serve to Stepanek’s backhand and then attacking it again, for which Stepanek had no response.

Nadal finished the match with eight double faults and 21 winners compared to Stepanek’s 33. It was an absolute nail-biter, with the veteran playing some of his best tennis, going toe to toe with the best player in the world. But as always, Nadal found the will power and determination to claw back and overcome his shortcomings to take the match.

The defending champion plays Alexandr Dolgopolov next. The two met last in the final of the Rio Open, which Nadal won in straight sets.