The Balearic signs a convincing victory against Kecmanovic on his return to earth
Davidovich and Bautista fall in three sets against Hurkacz and Evans
MADRID, 4 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal entered the Mutua Madrid Open with a remarkable performance this Wednesday, in his victory (6-1, 7-6(4)) over the Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic despite the fact that he arrived in preseason mode due to a broken rib six weeks ago, while fellow Spaniards Alejandro Davidovich and Roberto Bautista said goodbye in the second round.
Nadal will face Belgian David Goffin in the round of 16 on Thursday, who beat Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp (6-4, 5-2). The five-time champion in the capital avoided all the possible pitfalls that his premiere without filming brought at the Manolo Santana, where it was sunny, it rained and in front of him he had a confident rival.
The inactivity until a few days of the fourth Masters 1,000 of the season did not prevent seeing a forceful Nadal. The Balearic took a lot of forehand and scored a duel of long points, indoors in the second set. The fight for control left the Serb with a determined start, but after making it 2-1 with some work, the Spaniard responded so that Kecmanovic did not finish growing.
The Spaniard broke the rival defense and little by little added a strong rhythm, dominating with the right in points to enjoy (6-1). The rain bothered at one point and at the beginning of the second set forced the match to stop for half an hour. With the covered court and that break, it was difficult for Nadal to return to command and connect winners. Kecmanovic had his ‘break’ ball in the return game and did not leave the game, without Spanish takeoff.
The Serbian won his first long point and struggled to break his rival’s serve for the first time and continue in the gap (3-3). He raised the level and Nadal had no problem doing it, giving an extra in that exchange that gave him the ‘break’ in the eleventh game. Kecmanovic, who already stood up to Novak Djokovic in Belgrade two weeks ago, did not give up easy against Nadal and at his house either.
The one from Manacor needed the ‘tie-break’ to sign his triumphant debut on the track where he receives the most support in the world, to grow in that set-up. After missing Monte Carlo and Barcelona, the king of the land returns to its surface almost a year later, entering his domain in search of his 38 Masters 1,000 and a preseason that he recognized awaits his peak moment at Roland Garros.
DEFEATS OF DAVIDOVICH AND BAUTISTA
In the morning session, Bautista choked on a demanding three-hour second round against Britain’s Daniel Evans (6-3, 5-7, 7-6(2). The man from Castellón, who has the 2014 semifinal as his best result In Madrid, he found himself in a long match, one of those that he likes to compete, but it escaped him in the third set with a 3-5.
An untimely slump in a tight first quarter also cost Bautista dearly, with Evans four games in a row to take a 6-3 lead. The man from Castellón prepared himself for a long game and made it a reality by saving a compromised sixth game, and breaking this time to win the set (5-7). The inertia was from the local player but Evans’ serve and net game prevailed.
After the ‘break’, Bautista lost control when he came to serve to win. The British fought back and forced sudden death where the Spanish said goodbye with a bitter defeat. The man from Castellón arrived in Madrid without playing in Monte Carlo or Barcelona due to some discomfort in his wrist and Evans, who was coming off a bad tour on gravel, will face the Russian Andrey Rublev in the round of 16.
In this lower part of the draw, the second seed, the German Alexander Zverev, began his title defense with a session of faith and some fortune. The defending champion survived the Croatian Marin Cilic (4-6, 6-4, 6-4), a debut to regain sensations and look for a week that fuels his irregular game and season, after hitting rock bottom in Munich last week .
In a long second match, Davidovich lost to Pole Hubert Hurkacz (6-4, 4-6, 7-6(6)). The man from Malaga was absent due to fatigue in Barcelona and neither in Estoril nor now Madrid has managed to follow his progression with the Montercalo final. ‘Foki’ did not find his game to the rest until the second quarter, giving war after the break due to rain to force the tiebreaker.
The small but vibrant court 3 of the Caja Mágica served up a nice fight, waiting for the Serbian Dusan Lajovic in the round of 16. The Pole broke and then the Spanish, both headed for the ‘tie-break’, also even, in which Hurkacz sealed his pass. Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, the only hosts in the ATP table.