Heading into the Open, Nadal was placed into Novak Djokovic's bracket. Already Nadal has a hard task for this tournament, but his first task at hand was Borna Coric.
The match was very straight-forward. Nadal looked vintage in his first two sets. Nadal took tonight's match 6-3 and 6-2 in sets one and two, dropped set three 6-4, and finished it out set four, 6-4. Nadal took a forehand return to put himself up 4-3, and never really looked back from there. It was a vintage return from Nadal that we've been missing for a long time.
“The first two sets I played a very high level,” Nadal said. “Then I got a little bit tired. I had some problems. I was sweating a lot. I lost a little bit, I didn’t feel strong enough.”
It's a good feeling seeing Nadal look like his old self. Although he did give up one set, it's still a solid outing and Nadal should be pleased. He may not be the force he used to be, but he can give any player a run for their money.
Very happy to be back,” Nadal said, “and to be through.”
The Croatian Coric, is 18 years old and a rising star who actually defeated Nadal last year in Basel. Nadal hasn't been shut-out through a year since 2005 and this is his last chance to do so.
Nadal sees a rematch with Djokovic in the near future, who has won 6 of their last 7 meetings in head to head. Nadal may pull out an upset, maybe not, but he'll challenge every set.
“I had a great week of practice before the tournament start, no? I practiced at a very high level of tennis during the previous weeks, no?” he said. “That gives me calm. That gives me confidence. I know if I’m able to keep having those feelings, I don’t know here or I don’t know in the next tournaments, but I will have the success again.
Nadal will play against Diego Schwartzman next round.
“It was an important victory for me,” Nadal said. “Happy the way that I played when I was, you know, physically good.”