Australian Open: Rafael Nadal with a relaxed opening win
Rafael Nadal (ATP No. 5) started the Australian Open 2022 with an easy three-set win.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 17, 2022, 06:54 am
Nadal easily beat the American Marcos Giron 6: 1, 6: 4 and 6: 2.
The winner from 2009 dominated the match throughout, especially with his forehand, and took the lead early in every set with a break. And hardly allowed anything on his own serve - Giron only had two break chances in the entire game.
Nadal, meanwhile, fired 34 winners at the other side and kept the mistakes in the green area with 26 without need.
However, Nadal's second round match could be tougher, also in terms of audience favor: Because local hero Thanasi Kokkinakis could wait here. The long-injured Australian had just won his first ATP tournament in Adelaide and thus provided one of the most beautiful stories at the start of the season. However, Kokkinakis first has to win his opening game against Yannick Hanfmann (from 7 a.m. here in the live ticker !).
Nadal after corona disease: "Four days in bed, three more physically done"
"Challenging months, not just the last six," said Nadal, explaining that his foot has been a problem for his entire career and that he had major problems with it again in 2020. "It's hard to say," said Nadal when asked about his current level. "Things are always difficult, you have to take it one day at a time. Some of them don't feel the best, but you have to approach everything positively, with the right energy." Ultimately, things are going "better and better", winning the title in Melbourne the week before last was of course "a nice thing".
Nadal has his corona disease behind him, "I was in bed for four days and physically exhausted for three more," said Nadal. Does he still feel after-effects? Difficult to answer, says the 35-year-old, he currently doesn't know if he's more tired than normal, whether it's from the illness or because he hasn't been on the tour for six months.
Surprise by Korda, victories by Berrettini and Shapovalov
Sebastian Korda caused a small surprise on the first day of the Australian Open, taking 12th seeded Cameron Norrie out of the tournament with 6:4, 6:0 and 6:3.
Next are the seeded Matteo Berrettini (4: 6, 6: 2, 7: 6 (3), 6: 3 against Brandon Nakashima), Denis Shapovalov (7: 6 (3), 6: 4, 3: 6, 76 ( 3) against Laslo Djere) and Pablo Carreno Busta (6:1, 6:2, 7:6 (2) against Tomas Etcheverry).
Peter Gojowczyk, on the other hand, was eliminated after beating Benjamin Bonzi 3:6, 3:6, 3:6.
For the men'ssingle draw,For the women's single draw
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