Guwahati: Rafael Nadal, the top seed defeated British rising sensation Jack Draper on Monday at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne to start the defence of his Australian Open championship.
The Spaniard came through in the clutch to defeat Jack Draper, a 21-year-old first-timer, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 and advance to the second round for the 17th time.
Nadal recovered from Draper’s nearly 6-0 lead in the second set by winning sets one and three with significant, late breaks in a contest featuring exclusively left-handed players. The British player took on Nadal and occasionally outperformed him before giving in to the Spaniard’s relentless onslaught.
As the Spaniard took control of the match in the third set, finding his forehand from every part of the court, Draper began to develop cramps and required treatment during several changeovers.
Both players displayed some of their best tennis early in the fourth set, with Draper earning his fourth break to take the lead. But Nadal won the final six games as Draper’s health problems worsened.
Rain briefly put an end to the first ATP Head2Head match between the two players early on, and the action on the court appeared to reflect it as each player alternated serving from the baseline.
After almost losing the first set, Draper immediately grabbed a 4-0 lead in the second set with the help of his strong forehand.
The match’s outcome was in doubt when Draper came from a set down to tie the third set, but Nadal did just enough to keep his rival at bay and prevent any chance of an upset; the fourth set was never in doubt.
Nadal is attempting to win his third Australian Open championship while vying for a Grand Slam singles record-extending 23rd victory (2009, 2022). He will face Mackenzie McDonald in the second round after the American defeated fellow countryman Brandon Nakashima on Monday with scores of 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-7(10) and 6-4.