Rafael Nadal put on a Centre Court masterclass to reach the fourth round at Wimbledon after beating Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-1 6-2 6-4 as he took another step closer to winning a remarkable 23rd Grand Slam.
Unlike his previous two wins at SW19 this week, in which he dropped a set to Francisco Cerundolo and Ricardas Berankis and was far from the entertainer we know he can be, the No.2 seed was in a ruthless mood on Saturday night.
Sonego, who was hoping to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for only the second time in his career, was his victim, but in truth the 27th seed rarely troubled, and having lost the first set inside 27 minutes, the writing was on the wall right from the off.
The two-time champion has now reached the last-16 of the Wimbledon for the 10th time in his career and he'll face Botic van de Zandschulp on Monday.
The Sporting News was on Centre Court to bring you live updates and highlights of the match - check out how the action unfolded below.
Rafael Nadal vs. Lorenzo Sonego result
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal | 6 | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Lorenzo Sonego | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | - |
Rafael Nadal vs. Lorenzo Sonego updates and highlights from Wimbledon 2022
All times BST
*denotes server
Why was Rafael Nadal annoyed with Lorenzo Sonego?
When asked in his press conference whether at 4-4 in the third set it was Sonego's grunting that was frustrating him, here's what he had to say.
"Well, first of all, I have to say that I was wrong. Probably I will not -- I should not call him on the net. So apologise for that. My mistake in that. No problem. I recognise that," he said.
"Then after that, all the stuff during the match that I don't want to comment, because is something that I spoke with him in the locker room and it stays there. Only thing I can say is I saw him personally. I apologize for that.
"My intention was never to bother him at all. Just to tell one thing that was bothering me that I think he was doing in that moment, but that's it.
"I think there is some codes between players. Yeah, we had some issues there. But that's it."
9:40pm: "I was wrong. I should not call him on the net. I apologise for that. My mistake. No problem recognising that. I spoke with him at the locker room and that stays there," Nadal says in his presser.
We'll bring you the full quotes shortly.
9.30pm: Nadal is just heading into his press conference and we'll bring you any updates shortly - specifically if he provides any more clarification on what he was unhappy with Sonego doing during the third set.
8.55pm: Nadal doesn't go into detail in his post-match interview on court but apologises to Sonego if the timing of his intervention at the net disrupted his rhythm.
"I feel very sorry now if I bothered him. I just wanted to tell him something. I did it in a nice way but I feel really bad now if I bothered him. I'm going to talk to him right now," Nadal says.
Make that 308 Grand Slam match wins for @RafaelNadal 🤯
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
He beats Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2, 6-4#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/GanBJUhoYq
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 6-4 Lorenzo Sonego - NADAL WINS THIRD SET AND THE MATCH
An ace coupled with a neat volley at the net that forces Sonego into hitting wide gets Nadal to 30-0. He double faults and then hits another ace. Two match points... A serve down the middle can't be returned and he's done it. The two players shake hands at the net but there's a discussion of about 30 seconds over whatever happened two games ago. Nadal is into the fourth round as his quest for 23rd Grand Slam continues.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 5-4 *Lorenzo Sonego
Whatever it was, Nadal is letting his tennis do the talking now as he gets to 0-30. Sonego switches things up with a drop shot Nadal can't reach and the Spaniard applauds the shot. Nadal gets to break point though and a poor decision from Sonego allows Nadal to backhand volley. He'll now serve for a place in the fourth round.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 4-4 Lorenzo Sonego
Wow. Sonego is sent from left to right and back again and slips but still manages to scoop a forehand winner as he falls to the floor. He wins the next, this time running on to hit a forehand with even more conviction that flies past Nadal. Then he returns even harder! Three break points out of nowhere. Nadal then smashes one into the net and has the break.
Nadal is unhappy with something though. He goes to the net and calls for Sonego to come over and have a word. Sonego doesn't seem too impressed and goes to the umpire for some clarity. It's not entirely clear what Nadal is complaining about but perhaps it's Sonego making a delayed noise after he's hit his shot that is putting Nadal off.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 4-3 *Lorenzo Sonego
Open the roof... Sonego double faults. He gets back in control at 30-15 with a forehand hit beyond Nadal's reach. The world No.3 smashes a forehand long and Sonego finishes with an ace.
8:30pm: The lights are on and the roof is closed! The players are just going through a little warm-up and then we'll be back in action where Sonego will hope he's a better player indoors than he is outdoors over the next few games.
8:20pm: They'll be about a 15-minute break while they close the roof and get some lights on.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 4-2 Lorenzo Sonego
Light is fading pretty quickly here but no sign of the roof coming on just yet. Sonego appears to take this issue up with the umpire but any requests for the lights to be turned on are waved away. Nadal carries on with his game, more big serves and some controlled forehands get him to 40-30 and he soon holds.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 3-2 *Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal's lob back fires as it goes wide, 15-15. Nadal hits a huge backhand with Sonego at the net but the Italian ducks and turns round to see it land in, 15-30. Sonego runs himself into the ground to win an energetic point and get to 40-30, a forehand winner leaving Nadal no chance. Nadal then blasts a backhand long.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 3-1 Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal has Sonego playing so deep and then exploits his positioning with a volley at net to go 30-0 up. Sonego plays him at his own game to get a point back. Sonego should do much better after arriving in time to reach a drop shot but he gets his angles wrong. Nadal then hits a volley with his back to the net and it ricochets off Sonego's racket. One fan calls out for the lights to be put on... Sonego needs something to change his fortunes that's for sure.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 2-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
A few lazy mistakes from Nadal gets Sonego to 40-0 and then the Spaniard sends a forehand wide. He holds to love.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 2-0 Lorenzo Sonego
A spectator shouts out "I love you Gareth" with England manager Southgate in the Royal Box. Nadal's focused as ever though and two big serves get him to 30-0. He adopts the classic serve and volley to get him over the line.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 1-0 *Lorenzo Sonego
The No.2 seed is refusing to be put on the back foot at any stage in this game but a few testing rallies get him to 30-30 before he delivers a stunning lob that kisses the base line, 30-40. Nadal is patient with the decisive rally and Sonego ends up hitting one into the crowd accidentally... which is caught.
Look at that passion 💪
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
Rafael Nadal leads Lorenzo Sonego 6-1, 6-2#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/W8Lj2kgimG
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 6-1 Lorenzo Sonego - NADAL WINS SECOND SET
Sonego is rewarded for his efforts in chasing around the court as Nadal ends the rally by hitting the net, 15-15. Nadal turns it up a notch with a couple of neat forehands and loud grunts to go with it to get two set points. A bird lands on court just as Nadal is about to serve and the ball boy runs on court to make it fly away. But not even that sees Nadal lose focus and a shot later his backhand winner seals the set.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 5-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego gets to 40-0 himself by switching up his serves that Nadal can't return. He smashes a forehand winner to get back-to-back holds. More loud cheers... you feel the crowd want this game to go on a little longer than first feared.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 5-1 Lorenzo Sonego
Dropping that game has only added fuel to Nadal's fire. He storms to 40-0 with some hard-hitting power but saves the most delicate of backhanded volleys across court to hold.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 4-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
Big cheers from the crowd as Sonego drills an ace but then it's another unforced error, 15-30. The cheers get louder as he smashes a volley at the net to move to 40-30. Nadal hits one into the net and Centre Court erupts. The Italian takes the applause in his stride and calls for them to get louder!
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 4-0 Lorenzo Sonego
A double fault from Nadal, but let's be honest he can afford to go hard on the second serve at this stage. He's soon back on song with his serve but a poor volley at the net makes it 30-30. Two big serves later it's game.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 3-0 *Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal gets to 0-30 before Nadal lets him back in with a forehand into the net. He gets level, Nadal sending a forehand long this time. One of the longest rallies of the match then ends with Sonego blasting a forehand way wide, break point. He does the same again and the Nadal steam train keeps on rolling - eight games won in a row.
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 2-0 Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego thought he had break point at 30-3- as his cross-court forehand just went wide as Nadal came to the net. Nadal volleys at the net on the next point to force Sonego into a forehand error.
Rafael Nadal 6-1 1-0 *Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego hits his first tweeter... not to show off but because Nadal's shot was so well placed but Nadal is there to hit the return at the net, 0-15. Nadal is ruthless. He keeps coming to the net and just picking up off Sonego's shots, this time a backhand winner gets him to 15-30. Nadal gets two break points again as Sonego makes an error. Nadal sends a forehand long to see one break point fall but the second is a stunning whipped forehand across court despite Sonego coming to the net to put him off.
A quite ridiculous @RafaelNadal return 🤯#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/O8cSBtkqtj
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
*Rafael Nadal 6-1 Lorenzo Sonego - NADAL WINS FIRST SET
An ace from Nadal gets him to 30-0. Another to 40-0, Sonego isn't even attempting to get near them. When he does, on the last point, Nadal is at the net to hit the volley. Nadal won't need to change shirts because he's barely broken a sweat here in the first 27 minutes of action.
Rafael Nadal 5-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal gets two break points courtesy of sloppy forehands from his opponent. Nadal hits the first forehand long and then Sonego inexcusably double faults. He'll serve for the opening set.
*Rafael Nadal 4-1 Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal begins with a double fault and then Sonego attempts a cheeky drop shot but it doesn't fall over his opponent's side of the net, 15-15. Maybe Nadal has some nerves too... he double faults again. Sonego can't capitalise as he hits a return into the net, 30-30. Nadal wins the next point but Sonego should have put it to bed having lobbed Nadal and then got back into a decent position only to hit his next forehand long. Nadal gets the hold.
Rafael Nadal 3-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego challenges an out call on his forehand to avoid going 0-30 down but he's unsuccessful. Nadal's return is then a wayward one and Sonego gets a point back and he's level when he repeats the serve down the middle, this time the return goes beyond the base line. Sonego curses to himself as he gifts Nadal break point with an overhit forehand. Nadal gets the break as a backhand from Sonego goes wide. That won't do the No.27 seed's confidence much good.
*Rafael Nadal 2-1 Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal starts with a lovely serve and volley combination. A Sonego error coupled with two controlled backhand volleys gets the Spaniard a comfortable hold. All straight forward stuff so far.
Rafael Nadal 1-1 *Lorenzo Sonego
Sonego drills his first ace to get to 30-0 before Nadal smashes a forehand return winner across court. Sonego is just finding his feet with his serve and that helps him get to 40-15. Sonego lures Nadal in with a drop shot, which he makes, but the Italian fires the volley into empty space to hold.
*Rafael Nadal 1-0 Lorenzo Sonego
Nadal gets the first point of the match as Sonego hits a return into the net. Fans don't have to wait long to see a textbook forehand from Nadal as he drills one down the line, 30-0. Two more big serves and Nadal is up and running.
6.35pm: Both players come out to huge cheers, of course there's plenty of Rafa fans on court hoping for a Spanish masterclass over the coming hours. It won't be long until we're underway!
Centre Court rises for Rafa 🇪🇸
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2022
The two-time champion takes on Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the Round of 16#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/dIhi2Xt8s4
6.20pm: Paula Badosa has beaten Petra Kvitova in straight sets, 7-5 7-6, so it won't be long until Nadal and Sonego take to the court.
5.45pm: Upset alert! World No.1 Iga Swiatek is OUT of Wimbledon and her incredible 37-match unbeaten streak has come to an end. She suffered a 4-6 2-6 defeat to Alize Cornet in the third round over on No.1 Court.
5.15pm: Nadal and Sonego are the final match of the day on Centre Court. They'll be on court following the conclusion of Paula Badosa and Petra Kvitova's match. The Spaniard has just beaten the two-time Wimbledon champion 7-5 to take the first set.
5pm: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of Rafael Nadal's third-round clash against Lorenzo Sonego. It still feels like we're waiting to see the Spaniard unleash his full potential at SW19 this week and standing in his way today is the world No.54, who has been playing some brilliant tennis this week.