look news india
Madrid, April 26 (HS). Spain's legendary tennis player Rafael Nadal made an easy start in the Madrid Open tennis tournament on Thursday, defeating America's Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0 in just 63 minutes. However, a day earlier he had expressed uncertainty about playing in this tournament citing health reasons.
Speaking to Spanish TV after his victory, Nadal said he was trying to enjoy every moment.
“I will be training again tomorrow (Friday) and will be back here the day after tomorrow and it is great,” he said.
Nadal will play Australian player Alex de Minaur in the second round.
“Last week it wasn't supposed to happen and I'm sure this week will be difficult too,” Nadal said. I want to keep improving in everything and I will do whatever is in my hands.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Shang Juncheng won a thrilling match against Corentin Moutet 6-7(9), 6-2, 7-6(10), a marathon match decided in a third-set tiebreak.
In the women's round of 64, top seed Iga Swiatek started her Madrid campaign with an easy win over China's Wang Ziyu, defeating Wang 6–1, 6–4.
In another match, ninth seed Jelena Ostapenko defeated Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 6-3, 6-1.
Fifth seed Maria Sakkari easily defeated Donna Vekic 6-3, 6-2 and former champion Victoria Azarenka had an easy 6-3, 6-1 win against Tatjana Maria.
Naomi Osaka failed to advance beyond the second round, losing to 15th-seeded Lyudmila Samsonova 6–2, 4–6, 7–5. 16th-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina also crashed out of the tournament after losing 6-3, 7-5 to Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo.