Nadal Opens With A Bang!
Nadal Opens With A Bang!
Spanish star will remain at No. 1 if he reaches the quarter-finals
Rafael Nadal marked his return to competitive play on Monday night with a devastating blend of power tennis and excellent movement at the Australian Open.
The World No. 1, competing for the first time since appearing at the Nitto ATP Finals in November 2017, swept past Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 in just over 90 minutes on Rod Laver Arena.
The 31-year-old Spaniard improved to 52-11 at Melbourne Park, scene of his 2009 triumph over Roger Federer, and will play Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer in the second round. Mayer knocked out Nicolas Jarry of Chile 6-2, 7-6(1), 6-3 earlier in the day.
Nadal, who will remain at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings should he reach the quarter-finals, is bidding to become only the third player in the tennis history — after Australians Roy Emerson and Rod Laver — to win each of the fourth Grand Slam championship titles twice.
Nadal completed the 23-minute first set with a perfect drop shot winner, which left Estrella Burgos flat-footed. World No. 81 Estrella Burgos broke Nadal for the first time on his sixth break point opportunity at 5-0 in the second set. Nadal struck 28 winners, winning 86 total points to 41 for his 37-year-old opponent.
