RAFAEL Nadal launched his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title Monday in blistering fashion — a far cry from his “ugly” predicament one month ago and recent injury problems.
Nadal, the only Australian Open champion in the men’s draw after nine-time winner Novak Djokovic’s banishment on the eve of the tournament, was all guns blazing in a spectacular first-round win on Rod Laver Arena.
The Spanish sixth seed, who beat Roger Federer for the 2009 Australian title and is vying with Djokovic and Federer to reach a record 21st Grand Slam crown, bludgeoned American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
In an impressive 1hr 49min performance, Nadal began with an ace and peppered the world number 66 Giron with 34 winners — 14 of them with his famed forehand — and won 84 percent of his first serves.
It follows 35-year-old Nadal’s 89th Tour title when the veteran great swept through the field last week to win a warm-up event at Melbourne Park, having had Covid only last month and suffered a foot injury in 2021.
“Twelve events in two years are not many,” Nadal said, reflecting on an injury-marred couple of years.
“If we add that I was not able to practise very often, too, it’s a really tough one.
“But here I am. I am super happy about all the work that we have done to try to be back. We are here enjoying the tennis, and that’s it. We’re going to keep trying hard.
“I need time on the Tour to try and recover the level that I need to fight for the things that I want and be healthy.
“If that happens, I hope to keep having chances to keep going and fight for the things.”
Warhorse Nadal ended his season in August because of his foot, then contracted Covid-19 in December, saying it left him “very sick”.
Next up on the same court is Rafael Nadal’s match against American Marcos Giron.
Women’s singles defending champion Naomi Osaka had a relatively trouble-free 6-3, 6-3 win over Camila Osorio in her first-round match on Rod Laver Arena.
The four-time Grand Slam singles champion won the first five games of the match before Osorio hit back.
Osaka advances to the second round against either Dayana Yastremska or Madison Brengle.
Former No. 1 Osaka slid down the rankings last year after taking time out following her withdrawal at the French Open. She is 13th at the Australian Open, where she won last year and in 2019.
Osorio is ranked 50th in the world and was making her main draw debut at Melbourne Park.
Also on Monday, Wang Qiang had her first win over a top 20 player since beating Serena Williams at Melbourne Park in 2020 after upsetting 18th-seeded Coco Gauff 6-4, 6-2.
It was Wang’s first win on tour since last year’s French Open, where she beat Hsieh Su-wei in the first round before losing to Gauff in the second.
Gauff saved four match points from 5-0 down on Monday but that was the only good news in a match where the American made 38 unforced errors.
“You know I lost two times against her last year so I just tried my best to focus on court,” Wang said.
French Open champion and fourth-seeded Barbora Krejcikova advanced with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Andrea Petkovic. Krejcikova lost to Paula Badosa in three sets at the Sydney WTA tune-up tournament final on Saturday.
AFP
