MELBOURNE − Rafael Nadal needed five match points before putting away tenacious German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann at the Australian Open today and continue his march towards a record 21st Grand Slam title.
The Spanish world number five was always in command in a 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win in 2hr 42 min in hot conditions on the Rod Laver Arena to stride into round three.
“He is a player with big shots, good serve and he has very high potential,” Nadal said of the 126th-ranked Hanfmann, who put up more of a fight than the score suggested.
Next up for Nadal is either Russian 28th seed Karen Khachanov or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Nadal − with two service breaks − took the opening set after 48min with a backhand winner to the top corner.
The meticulous Spaniard kept moving Hanfmann around the court and claimed another service break with a forehand winner for 5-3 and served it out for a two-sets lead.
Another early service break had Nadal on the way in the third set, but he needed five match points to close it out.
His 5-0 record in 2022 is a strong start after a previous injury-disrupted year but he is yet to face a top-60 player in the new year.
Nadal − the only Australian Open champion in the men’s draw after nine-time winner Novak Djokovic’s deportation on the eve of the tournament − is vying with Djokovic and Roger Federer to reach a men’s record 21st Slam crown.
Nadal’s 2021 season ended prematurely in August because of his left foot injury before he contracted Covid-19 in December.
The Spanish great has played just 13 tournaments in the past two seasons. – AFP, January 19, 2022
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