Rafael Nadal started his Australian Open Grand Slam title defense against Jack Draper perfectly who resisted after a result of 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and 6-1, after three hours and forty minutes.
The number 1 of the tournament already knows his rival for the second round and will face the American Mackenzie McDonald.
In the first set, Nadal suffered a bit against the Englishman although he was able to hold on to his break to take the set 7-5.. In the second set, Draper started up 2-0 although rain halted the match for several minutes, then extended his lead to 4-0.
Nadal tried to come back with two games straight, but Draper rallied to finish the second set 6-2. Although the Englishman’s resistance faded in the third set and Rafael Nadal began to show his experience at the most delicate moment of the match and the defender of the crown broke his opponent’s serve with a favorable 6-5 to go 2-1 at the match.
In the third set, Draper began to have physical discomfort due to wear and tear and his serves were less effective, something that Nadal took advantage of to close with a 6-1 and thus advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
It was the seventeenth time that the Spaniard qualified for a second round at the Australian Open, as well as the first victory in 2023.
He will face the American Mackenzie McDonald, who for his part beat his compatriot Brandon Nakashima in an even clash that lasted more than four hours and was decided by a tight 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-7(10) and 6-4.
The Spaniard prevailed in the only clash they had by a clear 6-1, 6-0 and 6-3 in the 2020 edition of Roland Garros.
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