With a crosscourt forehand that pressured his opponent to return into the online Rafael Nadal has accomplished a extremely profitable return to motion.
The 22-time grand slam winner had not been seen on court docket since making a short comeback in Brisbane in January, his solely match for the reason that Australian Open in January 2023. He had not performed on a claycourt since successful the French Open title for the 14th time in June 2022.
But on a court docket named after himself, and backed by an adoring crowd, he brushed apart Flavio Cobolli 6-2 6-3 in a single hour 25 minutes within the opening spherical of the Barcelona Open.
That arrange a second spherical conflict with Australian No.1 Alex de Minaur, who will present a a lot harder take a look at than the nervous Cobolli, who made 41 unforced errors.
Though the world No.62 the Italian offered little risk to Nadal, who took lower than a handful of video games to shake off the rust, breaking at 2-1, then sweeping to the set in 43 minutes.
The second set was equally fast, although Nadal, 37, did drop serve early on. However, he had already damaged Cobolli and rapidly restored his benefit.
“I’m just having fun, happy to start with a victory,” he stated on court docket.
“When you are at an advanced age it makes things even more tough (to come back) but to be able to continue means a lot to me.”
The winner of Nadal-de Minaur will face both Daniel Altmaier or Arthur Fils within the third spherical after Altmaier beat Alexei Popyrin 6-3 7-6 (7-4)
Second seed Andrey Rublev destroyed his racket on the finish of a 6-4 7-6 (8-6) defeat by Brandon Nakashima that continued his poor run of kind.
In Munich Chris O’Connell and Aleksandar Vukic each misplaced in straight units within the first spherical to lower-ranked opponents.
O’Connell was overwhelmed 6-3 6-4 by Daniel Taro who, being ranked 85, is 27 locations under him on the planet.
Vukic misplaced to 6-2 6-3 Jurij Rodionov, ranked 118, 53 locations decrease. The Austrian will now play high seed Alexander Zverev.
Taro will meet Felix Auger-Aliassime who saved a match level and got here again from 2-5 within the last set to beat native hope Max Marterer 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-3) in a 3 hour, 24 minute-marathon.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
