For all of Rafael Nadal’s early stumbles in Grand Slams – granted they have come more frequently at Wimbledon than anywhere else - only once has he been shown the departure gate in the last 32 in south-west London.

That was 19 years ago, against Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan when Nadal was making his Grand Slam debut – long before his ‘pirate’ trousers were the centre of attention and a certain R. Federer was engraved on the men’s singles trophy for the first time.

Before his straight-sets defeat of Nadal, Srichaphan had become the first Asian man to crack the top 10 with victory over Andre Agassi at Wimbledon a year earlier.

While no slouch on the turf, having reached the 2021 Eastbourne final and fallen to Federer in the fourth round last year too, the 27-year-old Sonego was far from the heavy favourite unlike the Thai.

It did not help the Italian that the rival on the other side of the net believed he had just played his best at The Championships.

“Well probably it's been my best match without a doubt here during The Championships,” Nadal said.

“Against probably the most difficult player I faced. My level has been able to raise a lot. Super happy for that.

“I wish Lorenzo all the very best for the rest of the season. He's a great player on grass.

“Last year he made already the fourth round and this year again a good result so I think he has a great future here.”

Even at his career-best mark on the cusp of the top 20 last year, the now world No.54 had long played third fiddle to his best friends on tour, Matteo Berrettini, and Jannik Sinner among the Italian brigade.

After nearly toppling eventual finalist Casper Ruud at Roland-Garros last month, Sonego compiled a reasonable 3-3 record on grass before Wimbledon, all the while preparing to drop his second single, Swing, with good friend AlterEdo last week.

Unfortunately for Sonego, he crossed a more pitch-perfect Nadal hitting all the right notes on their Centre Court outing on Saturday.

From one-all, the second seed went on a tear, peeling off four straight games before a swinging ace down the T brought him three set points.

He needed only one as a quick close at net had him seated at the changeover after 27 minutes.

The Italian needed to hang tight on serve but an approach shot telegraphed with far too much time enabled Nadal to comfortably canter across and curl a 98mph crosscourt forehand winner for the immediate break in the second set.

It was shaping as entirely one-way traffic.

Showing quick hands in a close-range exchange, the Spaniard angled a backhand volley winner to close to 5-1 less than half an hour later and it took Sonego a pair of flattened forehand winners to hold for just the third time.

Two sets to the good on a backhand winner into the corner, Nadal again struck early with the break for 1-0 on his opponent’s shanked forehand.

While it came somewhat to the chagrin of his opponent, Sonego’s last-ditch attempt to prolong his stay was heeded when his plea with the tournament supervisor to close the roof above Centre Court was accepted at 2-4 in the third set.

He rallied briefly to land his first break but after two hours and four minutes, the two-time champion was safely home.

The Spaniard’s 17th Grand Slam match win in succession put him just two shy of his 2008 stretch and eight short of his career best 25 in a row from 2010 to 2011.

Unbeaten streaks however were not what he played for these days.

Through to the fourth round in south-west London for a 10th time, Nadal only had eyes for the biggest prizes now.

“It's always a tricky thing. I went through some tough injuries during all my tennis career, but in some way I feel very lucky that I'm still able to play at my age,” he said.

“I never thought that would be happening 10 years ago, so I just feel very, very lucky.”

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