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Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns to England’s Jack Draper during their men’s singles match on day one of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 16, 2023. (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP)
Defending champion Rafael Nadal admitted he was far from perfect after grinding down a man 15 years his junior to kickstart his bid for a 23rd Grand Slam title on Saturday.
The Spanish top seed unleashed some of his trademark forehand hammer, but also made 46 unforced errors, before beating Britain’s Jack Draper 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the Australian Open.
It puts him into the second round for the 17th time and stretches his win-loss record at Melbourne Park to 77-15.
25 intensity shots 🔥🔥🔥 @Rafael Nadal v @jackdraper0@Kia_Worldwide • #MovementThatInspires • @wus • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis pic.twitter.com/SuplC9lhp7
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 16, 2023
She will next play Mackenzie McDonald, who beat fellow American Brandon Nakashima in a five-set thriller.
“Super-happy to be back here in Australia once again. This is like my 19th season on the professional tour, so I’m very excited about this new start,” said Nadal after a 3-hour, 41-minute test in blistering heat at Rod Laver Arena.
“I need a victory, that’s the main thing. It doesn’t matter the road. The most important thing today is the victory against a difficult opponent.
“We know it’s not going to be perfect … it’s not perfect.
“(But) I think I did a good job. So I’m satisfied with the victory because it gave me a chance to play again.
It’s been a bit of a slog for the 36-year-old Nadal, who has lost six of his past seven matches, including the opening two this year.
Little separated them in the first set noted for a strange incident in which Nadal complained that one of the racquets was missing.
He kept his cool and waited for the chance, which came at 6-5 on Draper’s serve when he got a set point and converted it with a searing cross-court winner.
But Nadal lost focus in the second set as 21-year-old Draper, ranked 38, raised his game and raced to a 4-0 lead before sealing the set.
The Spaniard regrouped and broke early in the third set to move 4-1 ahead, winning long rallies. Draper needed repeated treatment on his upper right leg, but against the odds returned before Nadal stepped up again.
Draper clearly struggled, grmacing in pain at times, and Nadal showed no mercy to race through the fourth set for victory.
“I just feel what’s going on behind him. I hope it’s nothing important,” said the Spaniard.
“But I think he’s in the right position to have a productive season. I’m happy to win against a good player tonight.
Nadal created history on the same court last year with a five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final.
He claims to hold the record for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles with 21, ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
He added 22 at Roland Garros, while Djokovic won Wimbledon to move to 21.
Nadal’s 2022 run in Melbourne is without nine-time champion Djokovic, who returns this year and kicks off his campaign on Tuesday.
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