Nadal

2023 - 1 - 15

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Australian Open 2023 day one: Rafael Nadal v Jack Draper – live (The Guardian)

Game-by-game report: Rafa Nadal faces a potential banana skin in the first round against rising British star Jack Draper. Join Angus Fontaine for updates.

The US duo Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff are also through to the second round. Weather update: According to our woman on the ground, Emma Kemp, it’s “hot af” in Melbourne today. Despite the furnace-like heat the combatants will have a quick warm up and then we’ll get to the action. The players are spotted in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena. There’s a 12 shot rally for the third point, the ball bouncing high but Rafa takes the point and then the game to love. Tumaini Carayol had this to say about the clash: Nadal’s training top and shoes match the colour of the blue court, but once he peels his top off, he’s in a bright orange playing shirt. The in-form Jack Draper is his opponent. The serve is his weapon and his first rips down the line, too fast for Nadal. Elevated to top seed following the withdrawal of injured world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz. He wins both opening rallies and then draws Draper into the net for the third point. Nadal* 2-1 Draper (* denotes server) Nadal has been highly critical of the balls being used in this tournament and they do appear to be bouncing big on the players, requiring each to take them on the rise and roll high shoulders at them.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Tennis365"

WATCH: Rafael Nadal 'needs his racket back' after ballboy ... (Tennis365)

Rafael Nadal is known for his idiosyncrasies and rituals before and during tennis matches so when a ballboy accidentally removed his playing racket from ...

[Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) I’m here to just give myself a chance. “It’s a big challenge for me at the beginning to start the tournament. The racket didn’t make an appearance in time for the next game as Nadal had to use a different one and he went on to win the opening set 7-5. Channel Nine commentator John Fitzgerald joked “goodness me, that’s a big mistake and he knows.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ATP Tour"

Nadal Outlasts Draper To Begin Australian Open Title Defence | ATP ... (ATP Tour)

Rafael Nadal comes through a challenging opening test against Jack Draper in Rod Laver Arena at the 2023 Australian Open.

[Australian Open](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview) title (2009, 2022). With defeat to Nadal, the Briton fell to 0-2 against top seeds at the Slams, having lost to [Novak Djokovic](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/novak-djokovic/d643/overview) at 2021 [Wimbledon](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/wimbledon/540/overview) in his major debut. His best major result is a third-round run at the 2022 The Spaniard delivered in the crucial moments of a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against 21-year-old debutante [Jack Draper](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jack-draper/d0co/overview) to reach the Melbourne second round for the 17th time. The pair's first ATP Head2Head matchup was briefly interrupted by rain at several moments early on, and the action on the court seemed to match that stop-start pattern as both men took turns dictating from the baseline. He is young, he has the power and I think he has a great future in front [of him]. In an all-lefty matchup, Nadal clinched sets one and three with decisive, late breaks to make up for what was nearly a 6-0 second set for Draper. "I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded. But Nadal rattled off the final six games as Draper's physical issues hampered him more and more. The last couple of months haven’t been easy for me, but hopefully this victory is going to help me." I’m very excited about this new beginning, just super happy to be back here in I’m super happy to be back here in Australia one more time," Nadal said in his on-court interview.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Nadal grinds down injured Draper to reach second round (Reuters)

Defending champion Rafa Nadal dropped a set but prevailed in a battle of fitness against Jack Draper to reach the second round of the Australian Open on ...

Typical thing when you are not in a winning mood." Open and was far from his best in a match that threw up unexpected challenges. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

Nadal battles past Draper into Australian Open second round (FRANCE 24)

Defending champion Rafael Nadal battled past a man 15 years his junior and kickstart his bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title at the Australian ...

Draper needed repeated treatment on his upper right leg, but against the odds broke back before Nadal again stepped up. I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round. "Super happy to be back here in Australia one more time.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Tennis Magazine"

Rafael Nadal wins opening match at Australian Open, ties Ivan ... (Tennis Magazine)

The Spaniard got the 1068th win of his career with a four-set victory over Britain's Jack Draper on Rod Laver Arena.

Awaiting Nadal in the second round will be No. “Well, if we put in perspective all the situation I went through the last six months, it has been a very positive start. Just super happy to be back here in Rod Laver Arena, and with a victory that I needed. And the match was a brawl from the start. Nadal couldn’t have asked for a more dangerous first-round opponent than Draper, though—not only was the 21-year-old British lefty only five spots out the seeds, but he came into the Australian Open with momentum, too, having reached the semifinals in Adelaide last week. Facts & Stats

Post cover
Image courtesy of "L'Équipe.fr"

Rafael Nadal au deuxième tour de l'Open d'Australie sans briller (L'Équipe.fr)

Loin de présenter son meilleur niveau face à Jack Draper, le tenant du titre a pu compter sur la défaillance physique de son adversaire (7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1) ...

Mais même lorsqu'il lâche un set, Nadal le fait payer cher à ses adversaires. Il lui permet en tout cas de rester dans le tournoi dont il est tenant du titre et de pouvoir jouer encore au moins un match en compétition. Même s'il a maîtrisé le premier set, Nadal n'a pas semblé serein dans ses déplacements.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Le Figaro"

Open d'Australie: Nadal évite le piège et s'impose à l'usure (Le Figaro)

Rafael Nadal vainqueur dans la douleur a signé son premier succès sur le circuit depuis une victoire au 3e tour de l'US Open, en septembre dernier, contre ...

Rafael Nadal a retrouvé avec le sourire la Rod Laver Arena, théâtre l'an dernier de son deuxième sacre à Melbourne (après 2009). Si on prend en compte tout ce que j'ai traversé ces six derniers mois, c'est un très bon début de tournoi», a souligné Nadal qui restait sur six défaites lors de ses sept derniers matchs. Son physique a tenu, le reste doit gagner en régularité et en consistance pour espérer voir loin.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Tennis Majors"

Très irrégulier, Nadal a bataillé 3h41 pour assurer l'essentiel face à ... (Tennis Majors)

Rafael Nadal a écarté Jack Draper (7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1) lors du premier tour de l'Open d'Australie.

[Open d’Australie : Nadal n’aime pas les ballestennis majors](https://www.tennismajors.com/fr/tennis-info-tennis-actu/open-daustralie-nadal-naime-pas-les-balles-626620.html) [“Vulnérable” pour cet Open d’Australie, Nadal ? - John Isner – Adrian Mannarino : programmé mardi - Christopher O’Connell – Jenson Brooksby : programmé mardi - Aleksandar Vukic – Brandon Holt : programmé mardi - Denis Kudla – Roman Safiullin : programmé mardi - Tomas Machac – Casper Ruud : programmé mardi Rafael Nadal a ainsi égalé Ivan Lendl pour devenir le troisième joueur comptant le plus grand nombre de victoires dans l’ère de l’Open. “J’avais besoin de cette victoire, ça n’a pas été facile. Rafael Nadal a ainsi décroché sa première victoire de la saison et s’est qualifié pour le deuxième tour de l’Open d’Australie, où il retrouvera Mackenzie McDonald, 65e joueur mondial. Rafael Nadal a également pu compter sur une grosse baisse de régime physique de Jack Draper dans les deux derniers sets. Après la perte du deuxième acte, on pouvait craindre le pire pour l’homme aux 22 titres du Grand Chelem. L’Espagnol redoutait son entrée en lice à [l’Open d’Australie 2023 ](https://www.tennismajors.com/fr/open-australie-actualite/dates-tickets-djokovic-tout-ce-que-vous-avez-toujours-voulu-savoir-a-propos-de-lopen-daustralie-2023-sans-prendre-le-temps-de-chercher-614494.html)face à [ Jack Draper](https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jack-draper/d0co/overview), 38e joueur mondial, et il avait raison.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

Open d'Australie: Nadal cède un set mais passe au 2e tour (FRANCE 24)

Rafael Nadal, tenant du titre, s'attendait à une entrée en lice difficile à l'Open d'Australie et il n'a pas été déçu: pourtant diminué physiquement, ...

Pour le Britannique, qui s'est fait plusieurs fois masser les cuisses aux changements de côté et qui souffrait du ventre, plus le match avançait et plus il devenait difficile de contrôler la balle explosive de Nadal. Face au jeune Draper (21 ans), l'un des hommes en forme du moment qui était encore en demi-finales à Adélaïde la semaine dernière, Nadal s'est appuyé sur sa longue expérience en gênant son adversaire de son gros coup droit lifté qu'il a régulièrement beaucoup arrondi. Le N.2 mondial affrontera au deuxième tour l'Américain Mackenzie McDonald (65e) qui a lui-même mis plus de quatre heures pour éliminer son compatriote Brandon Nakashima (49e) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-7 (10/12), 6-4.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The Japan Times"

Rafael Nadal victorious at Australian Open but heartbreak for Nick ... (The Japan Times)

Top-seeded Nadal recovered from a second-set wobble to defeat the 38th-ranked Briton 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "RTS.ch"

Open d'Australie: Nadal lâche un set mais se qualifie (RTS.ch)

Tenant du titre, Rafael Nadal (ATP 2) n'a pas, comme on pouvait le penser, été à la fête lors de son 1er tour à l'Open d'Australie. Le Majorquin a toutefois ...

Ce match qu'il redoutait contre un joueur de 21 ans en pleine progression va le lancer pleinement dans ce tournoi. Nadal a ainsi cueilli sa 1re victoire en 2023 au terme d'un combat de 3h41. - -

Post cover
Image courtesy of "ESPN"

Rafael Nadal struggles at times in Aussie opener but prevails in 4 sets (ESPN)

It wasn't a vintage performance by Rafael Nadal, but the defending Australian Open champion began his pursuit of a 23rd Grand Slam with a four-set victory ...

"But unfortunately, that (is in the past), so we need to keep working.'' [Carlos Alcaraz](http://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=3782) is sidelined with an injury, is appearing in his 67th Grand Slam tournament. No doubt about that,'' said Nadal, who came back from a two-set deficit against Draper, ranked a career-best No. From there, though, Nadal would not drop another game, beginning his pursuit of a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam championship with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory that took more than 3½ hours in Rod Laver Arena. Nadal was not in peak form.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Tennis Now"

Nadal Secures Much Needed Win over Draper at Australian Open ... (Tennis Now)

It wasn't pretty – or earth-shattering – like so many of his previous 1067 career victories have been, but number 1068 for the great Rafael Nadal was ...

Adding a bit of sugar coating to the victory was the fact that it represents yet another milestone in Nadal’s legendary career. The fact that he did that is what pleased him most. So satisfied with the victory because that gives me the chance to play after tomorrow again.”

Explore the last week