Rafael Nadal wasted no time getting back in gear after being sidelined for two months.
With a red-hot Miomir Kecmanovic on the other side of the net, Nadal didn’t have any choice.
In his first match since an injury-plagued loss to Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final, Nadal powered his way to a 6-1, 7-6(4) victory over Kecmanovic in round two of the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday afternoon. The five-time Madrid champion came out hot and then recovered from a couple of second-set hiccups to prevail after one hour and 55 minutes.
Kecmanovic, who is among the ATP’s match leaders in wins this season with 23, had reached at least the quarterfinals of six consecutive events. A good sign for Nadal is that the player who defeated the 22-year-old Serb in each of the last five tournaments went on to either win the title or finish runner-up.
Although Nadal still has a ways to go before extending that streak, he was the title favorite going into Madrid and that certainly remains the case following Wednesday’s performance. The 35-year-old Spaniard was up to his usual tricks of failing to consolidate breaks in the second set, which he did at 3-2 and 6-5, but it was an otherwise encouraging effort. Nadal steadied himself with a mostly dominant tiebreaker to close out the contest.
Next up for the No. 3 seed is David Goffin, who defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2. Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals and Novak Djokovic in the semis is a possible path through a rough draw for the King of Clay.
I always said that Madrid is a horrible fixture in the middle of the clay season, but would be a great transition from hard to clay (for Nadal this spring).
Rafa keeps doing the seemingly impossible this year. Although I doubt that he will win either Madrid or Rome, he is still the favourite to win RG, assuming that he stays healthy.
Come to think of it, he only lost due to injury in the past year. Why not keeping up doing GOAT stuff?
Yep!! I really liked what I saw today although I didn’t get to c the end. I just realize I have to get used to Rafa getting broken now and then especially when serving for sets or match!! Otherwise, Vamos Rafa!!
Wow, Ricky got nearly every prediction wrong for the day.
And not just a little bit wrong.
If I was you sir start doing the opposite of what you predict will happen.
You’ll have a lot better success that way.
“I’d”
And where r you on the days when he gets it all right?!!!!!
yep
I love the fact that the predictions sound like theyr written in stone.
Even though they end up being wrong most of the time, that level of conviction always gets me.
It’s amazing that you can be right in this world simoly by having conviction even when you’re wrong.
That’s awesome.
Absolutely terrible prediction almost all matches predicted wrong and some you’re so sure the person would win and lost. Terrible, you should stop predicting
The whole point about predictions is that most times they impossible as matches can swing on one point. Its the analysis taking into account all factors not just tennis knowledge that makes it interesting and worthwhile.Leaving aside the gambling bit.
nope. My predictions have been great since the start of the clay season.
Yeah, really great. You predicted Djokovic to lose each and every match he played on route to the final in Belgrade and then tipped him to win the final which he lost.
You’re a professional though
Hey Anonymous whoever you are,
You will not get anywhere trying to go after Ricky. He knows his stuff. And he can give a very astute comeback when necessary.
Have you bothered to read any of the content he has here on his site? He can predict and also breaks down draws and potential matches with his exceptional knowledge of this sport.
Agree with that. Bautista Agut served for the match at 5:3 and had multiple chances to close it out with a double break. Choked big time.
ADF had his chances, as well
I watched the whole of Rafa’s match. Rafa was playing well, in fact I was quite surprised that he was hitting and moving so well after such a long break.
Kecmanovic was hitting with pace and I knew he would be a tough opponent for Rafa on his first comeback match.
I think these days, Rafa’s level tends to come down after set one and he would start to slow down a bit and thus his serve could be broken.
I do think his stamina suffers a bit and if the match goes the distance, he will be at a disadvantage. It’s important that he wins the first set asap, so that he will have enough in his tank to go the distance, if necessary.
I thought he just won 5 setters 3 months back at ao…or are u saying just because he had a break ,he will take few matches to be match fit.
If his stamina drops ,he has no chance at RG. It’s the most gruelling slam with longest rallies
I think meddy is practising on clay ,so he will participate in French. That means rafa has no chance for no 2. He is defending 1000 at Rome, should take care not to drop to 5. Good thing if he drops to 5 is he avoids Alcaraz in qf but then can draw Novak ,tsitsipas in qf
LMHO!!!
Preview: “Kecmanovic is playing by far the best tennis of his career right now. In other words, it takes something special to beat Kecmanovic at the moment.”
Obviously, Nadal is something special.
Vamos!
I’d said it before during the AO, that Rafa and his team’s approach was to win the first set no matter what, so that he would not ‘chase’ from behind in his matches. He would have enough in his tank to last him through to the final should he make it there, that’s why by the AO final, he still had enough to go the distance with Meddy.
At his age, physical decline is expected and stamina wise, I think he won’t be as good as before. If I’m not wrong, Rafa did some training at the gym during his six weeks absence, just to maintain his fitness I suppose (not practising with his racket of course as he had pain in his chest).
I do feel the AO approach is applicable at any event that he plays going forward. I do think that meeting Djoko in the SF is better than meeting him in the final, so if Rafa is seeded third or fourth it doesn’t matter.
It’s a wonder Rafa is even still playing at such a high level his age and after all those injuries!! Me? Just happy to c him play and winning is a huge bonus!! Vamos Rafa!!