Australian Open 2023: Rafael Nadal tries to win over Jack Draper
Rafael Nadal was able to prevent an early exit at the Australian Open 2023 with a strong fighting performance. The Spaniard, who was seeded in first place, defeated youngster Jack Draper 7:5, 2:6, 6:4 and 6:1.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 16, 2023, 08:33 am
Rafael Nadal could have done better, especially in view of the early form in which the Spaniard is apparently in, which can be improved. With Jack Draper, last year's winner at the Australian Open faced a youngster right at the start, who was able to demonstrate his great potential on many occasions last year. The best example: the duel with Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP 500 event in Basel, where the Briton was only just about to lose out in three sets.
Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, who started the season with two defeats, recently had to give up surprisingly well. And struggled from the start in his opening duel with Jack Draper in Melbourne. Both players initially had difficulties defusing their opponent's serve, and section one rippled along for a long time. Up to the score of 6: 5 from Nadal's point of view: The second in the world rankings picked up the pace a bit, benefited from a shaky service game by Draper and won section one with 7: 5.
Nadal with weak section two
Anyone who thought the Spaniard had found his way into the game in the long term: far from it. The 36-year-old made a catastrophic start in the second set, conceded a more than unnecessary break in the first game and then just ran after it. Draper, on the other hand, showed courageous offensive tennis, held up surprisingly well from the baseline and in fact did not allow anything on his own serve. Unlike Nadal, who also left something to be desired in the second service game and had to take another break. After almost two hours, Draper transported this comfortable lead to a 6:2 equalizer.
The two players took this as an opportunity to leave the pitch for a few minutes. A remedy that Rafael Nadal was able to provide for a significant improvement in form during his career. Same today. The second in the world rankings made it 3-1, the first break since the end of the first set and quickly pulled away to 4-1. The main reason for this: Nadal was now better able to correct the mistakes from the baseline. The Brit Draper, on the other hand, presented himself much more vulnerable and also helped a lot with the break with two double errors.
Nadal wins tight third set
The next twist in this roller coaster ride of a match was not long in coming: Although Draper was struggling with cramps and had to be treated in almost every change of sides, the youngster now managed the break himself and thus the equalizer to 4: 4 a little later. Nadal caught himself again after this phase of weakness, served to make it 5: 4 and a little later had a set ball as a setback - Draper was still able to prevent number one with nerves of steel, but Nadal worked out another one and finally converted it after a backhand mistake by the Briton.
Even this setback did not give Jack Draper any reason to give up in any way. But on the contrary. The Briton starts boldly in section four, put Nadal under pressure from the start and secured the early break in a marathon game. For his part, the Spaniard was unimpressed and immediately countered with the rebreak. As a result, Draper's physical condition deteriorated rapidly, the Briton ran out of round and conceded another break to make it 3-1. Also because legs and serve didn't want to play along anymore.
It was an undignified end for a spirited, courageous performance by the young Briton, who apparently only saved himself towards the finish line. Nadal, on the other hand, did a good job, hardly made any mistakes and finally brought the hard-fought 7: 5, 2: 6, 6: 4 and 6: 1 opening win dry. In round two, Nadal now meets the American Mackenzie McDonald, who surprised compatriot Brandon Nakashima in the first five-set fight of the Australian Open 2023. Nadal has 2,000 points to defend as the defending champion in Melbourne.
Here is the men's individual tableau
laver arena