Nadal shared during the post-game interview that the first set was very emotional because anything could happen. He also mentioned that the game against Mannarino was mentally challenging in the first set, so he has to take advantage at the beginning of the second set.
As the match progressed, the French Mannarino struggled physically as he called for physio in the second set. Both of them were relentless to proceed the match, as they attack with their left forehands.
Nadal noted that his opponent’s way of controlling the ball was very difficult because it was flat and fast, but he was very happy to have survived the first set, especially the tie-break.
Since he successfully made it through the quarter-finals, he would be facing Denis Shapovalov, who recently defeated World Number 3, Alexander Zverev. Nadal had an idea of how amazing Shapovalov is as a player because it’s also difficult to stop his serve and forehand.