PARIS: Rafael Nadal fought back from 2-5 down in the next group to ensure that he began his first bid to get a 14th French Open title with a comfortable victory within Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday.
Even the 34-year-old Nadal, seeded third, hurried during the first two places before finally clinching a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) triumph more than his Australian competition.
“This was a really tough game with an excellent player such as Alexei.
For me it is always unique and particular to perform with here,” he explained.
The Spaniard could usurp Roger Federer in the peak of the all time men’s listing with a 21st Grand Slam singles title in Paris.
He began in menacing fashion due to his competitors and has not dropped a place in Roland Garros since hammering Dominic Thiem in four places at the 2019 closing.
Nadal will take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet, against whom he’s won 16 times in as many games, at the next round.
Questions were asked about Nadal’s type earlier from the clay-court period when he dropped to Andrey Rublev from the Monte Carlo Masters and Alexander Zverev at Madrid.
But he struck back with all the Open title, beating Novak Djokovic at the closing.
He took that form to the first two sets from Popyrin, hitting 18 winners beyond the 21-year-old.
However, the child appeared in prime place to induce a fourth group, simply to miss 2 set things on his serve since Nadal showed off his famed forces of healing.
The reigning winner powered 6-1 apparent from the tie-break before procuring a second-round place in the next time of asking.
“I had been fortunate to win this next group, I do not understand how (I really did ),” additional Nadal.
“The start of the game was really tough also.
In such hot and quick conditions it is always very tricky.
He is young and also the rate of the ball is extremely powerful” This was Nadal’s 101st career triumph in the French Open, against only two losses — to Robin Soderling from 2009 and Djokovic from the 2015 quarter-finals.
French Open: Rafael Nadal eases Beyond Alexei Popyrin in opener
