Welcome Guest   |  Login   |   Signup
JG Logo
Sat, May 26, 2012
Archive Search

Nadal’s ‘Rafa Slam’ Bid Begins With Shutout Win at Australian Open
Rob Gloster & Danielle Rossingh | January 18, 2011

Rafael Nadal hasn’t had any real problems in recent Grand Slams — Thursday’s win was his 23rd in a row in majors going back to the first round of the French Open last year. (EPA Photo) Rafael Nadal hasn’t had any real problems in recent Grand Slams — Thursday’s win was his 23rd in a row in majors going back to the first round of the French Open last year. (EPA Photo)
Share This Page
0
1
0
0
Share with google+ :


Post a comment
Please login to post comment

Comments

Be the first to write your opinion!

Melbourne, Australia. Rafael Nadal didn’t lose a game in his first-round Australian Open victory, which ended after 47 minutes when Marcos Daniel quit with a left knee injury.

The top-seeded Nadal led 6-0, 5-0 and had given up 12 points in today’s match when his Brazilian opponent, who limped noticeably during play, withdrew.

Nadal, a Spaniard, won the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open last year and is trying to become the first man to hold all four Grand Slam tennis titles simultaneously since Australia’s Rod Laver in 1969.

“It’s a terrible feeling for sure,” Nadal said after the match on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. “I wish him all the best and a fast recovery.”

Also today, women’s No. 2 seed Vera Zvonareva won 6-2, 6-1 against Sybille Bammer of Austria. Zvonareva, from Russia, was a finalist at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

Nadal joined second-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland, No. 3 Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Andy Roddick in advancing to the second round against little resistance.

Federer, 2008 champion Djokovic and Roddick, at No. 8 the top-seeded American man, all won on the first day of the tournament after giving up five games.

Federer won a record-extending 16th Grand Slam singles title by winning his fourth Australian Open championship in 2010 against Britain’s Andy Murray, the No. 5 seed who’s scheduled to play today.

Justine Henin overcame India’s Sania Mirza yesterday in the seven-time Grand Slam champion’s first major event in six months. Henin, 28, is one of the favorites for the title along with Belgian compatriot Kim Clijsters.


Bloomberg