Susan Miller Degnan
Miami Herald
March 31, 2024

The kid who would be king fell to earth Tuesday to a 23-year-old who knows what feeling mighty is like.

Rafael Nadal, the 17-year-old Spaniard who defeated world No. 1 Roger Federer on Sunday at the NASDAQ-100 Open, lost to Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-2, on a steamy-hot Tuesday afternoon.

''I didn't have my best day today,'' said the 34th-ranked teenager, whom many believe is destined to reach No. 1. ``I didn't play as aggressively as I could have. I beat the No. 1 in this tournament, and I just have to keep going forward.''

SAMPRAS VICTORY

On March 5, 2002, the Chilean Gonzalez had his own career highlight: defeating legend Pete Sampras on Stadium Court in the third round of the NASDAQ-100 Open.

The 2002 match, highlighted in the tournament history booklet, was Sampras' final appearance on Key Biscayne. Tonight, No. 21 seed Gonzalez aims to forge more history on Stadium Court when he meets unseeded Andrei Pavel of Romania in his first NASDAQ quarterfinal.

''It's very exciting,'' said Gonzalez, known for his mighty forehand and aggressive nature. ``I'm playing better every day, more relaxed on the court and more confident, too. It was tough today. He's a great player. I have no words to say how big he will be.''

Gonzalez beat Pavel last year in two sets on hard courts at Metz, France. His hard-hitting style has sometimes been criticized as reckless -- either all or nothing on each shot, a home-run hitter who strikes out a little too often.

In Tuesday's match, for instance, Gonzalez had eight aces -- and five double faults. He had 38 winners -- and 50 unforced errors.

''I don't hit the ball hard every time like I used to,'' he said, smiling.

``But I like being that way. If I have a shot I usually go for it. I don't like that the other guy is coming for it.''

Gonzalez still thinks about his 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 victory against Sampras, then ranked 13th and a year from announcing his retirement. ``When I was a kid, I always dreamed to play against Sampras, just to be on the court with him. And then when I had the opportunity, I beat him. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.''

EXCEPTIONAL SUPPORT

He hopes the Chileans who enthusiastically supported him Tuesday will return tonight to Stadium Court.

''I love to play in Miami because there are a lot of Chilean people and my sister lives here,'' he said of his 27-year-old sibling Patricia, who played tennis at Miami-Dade College. ``This is like my second home.''

As for Nadal, he said he'd be leaving Key Biscayne with a crucial lesson: ``I learned that when I play my best game, I can play anyone. But when I don't, I can also lose to anyone. I think I'll grow from this.''