3 weeks ago
Rafael Nadal began his Madrid Open farewell pinch a comfortable straight-set triumph complete American teen Darwin Blanch.
Spain's five-time champion, who has indicated he plans to discontinue aft nan 2024 season, took conscionable 63 minutes to complete a 6-1 6-0 victory.
The 37-year-old said this week he will only play astatine nan French Open adjacent period if he feels "capable capable to compete".
Nadal will play Australian Alex de Minaur, who hit him successful nan 2nd information of nan Barcelona Open past week, successful nan adjacent round.
The 22-time awesome victor was making his return pursuing a three-month absence astatine nan Barcelona Open, having feared he whitethorn not beryllium capable to play again connected nan master tour.
The French Open, wherever Nadal is simply a grounds 14-time champion, starts connected 26 May.
"Playing present has ever been a immense pleasance and nan support is difficult to picture successful words," Nadal told Sky Sports.
"I conscionable enjoyed nan truth I was capable to spell retired location 1 much time, and triumph gives maine nan chance to spell retired location again successful 2 days.
"It's emotional. I americium a passionate personification but I'm besides a unchangeable personality, truthful I'm enjoying it but besides focusing connected what I request to beryllium and seeing really acold I tin spell successful position of pushing my beingness performance."
In nan women's draw, American 3rd seed Coco Gauff recorded an emphatic 6-0 6-0 triumph complete Dutch subordinate Arantxa Rus.
But four-time awesome victor Naomi Osaka is retired pursuing a 6-2 4-6 7-5 nonaccomplishment to Russian 15th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
