Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal (ATP 5) won a convincing victory in the second round of the Australian Open tennis championship on Wednesday, maintaining hopes of becoming the champion of the “Grand Slam” tournament for the 21st time in his career, the BBC writes the media.
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Nadal defeated German Jannik Hanfman (ATP 126) with the result 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, who participated in the championship due to leaving the qualifying tournament.
The Spanish tennis player took 30 elusive shots during the game, as well as 16 break points, of which he used only four. Thus, the athlete has continued to return convincingly to the field after the foot operation that devastated him in the 2021 season.
“I played golf. I never enjoyed going to the weight room,” the BBC quoted Nadal as joking about answering the question.
Shortly before the Australian Open, the 35-year-old Spaniard won a tournament in Melbourne. It was his return to the field and the first tournament since August 2021.
In the next round, Nadal will meet with Russian athlete Karen Hachanov (ATP 30) or French representative Benjamin Bonze (ATP 63).
Spanish tennis player Pablo Karenjo Busta (ATP 21st) on Wednesday 6-3, 6-7 (6: 8), 7-6 (7: 3), 3-6, 6-4 defeated Dutch athlete Talon Gravespur (ATP 62 .). His compatriot Carlos Alcarass (ATP 31st) also won the victory, beating Serbian Dushan Lajovic 6-2, 6-1, 7-5.
In turn, the US service master Railie Opelka (ATP 29) defeated the German Dominic Kepfer (ATP 53) with the result 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7: 4).
Nadal, who has won one of the five finals of the Australian Open, is the only former champion in this year’s championship. Novak Djokovic was deported from Australia before the tournament, but Roger Federer and Stan Wavrinka have not returned to the field after the operation.
Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal have all won 20 Grand Slam tournaments. Nadal retains the opportunity to become the record holder of the Grand Slam title.
