Rafael Nadal kicked off his bid to reclaim the title he won eleven years ago in dramatic fashion on Monday. The second seed at this year’s China Open blew out Paolo Lorenzi 6-1, 6-1 in just over an hour in the first round in Beijing. The ruthless Spaniard was in control from the off, grabbing an early lead and never looking back as Lorenzi just could not keep up with his powerful opponent.
Quick Start for Nadal
It did not take long for the second seed to seize control of the match. After a tricky hold to start the match, which seemed to imply Lorenzi might have hope after pushing Nadal to deuce, the Spaniard quickly removed any doubt by breaking his opponent in the following game and consolidating with a hold to love. Lorenzi had a chance to close the gap in the sixth game, as he twice stood at break point, but failed to convert.
This miss would prove costly as Nadal would roar back and break to love in the following game to give himself a chance to serve out the set at 5-1. Despite a pair of rocky service games earlier in the set, the 2005 champion was untroubled in holding to take the opening set in a mere 34 minutes.
Nadal Continues to Dominate
Lorenzi got off to a better start in the second set, holding to 15 in the first game. That was the last time the Italian seemed to have any level of control in the match. After a hold to love, Nadal would break in the third game and hold to love to race to a 3-1 lead. The Spaniard seemed to be growing in confidence and his shots were the indicator, as he ripped a vintage forehand winner down the line on the full stretch out of nowhere in the fifth game on his way to a double break.
Whatever early struggles Nadal had had on his own serve in the first set, they were gone in the second. The Spaniard only dropped two points on serve and quickly found himself up 5-1 with Lorenzi serving to stay in the match. The Italian found himself down match point at 40-AD and while he saved the first one, he was unable to stop Nadal’s momentum as he was broken at the second time of asking as the second seed advanced to the second round by winning six unanswered games in the second set.
By the Numbers
A vintage returning performance saw Nadal dominate his opponent’s service games. Lorenzi managed a mere 43 percent of points won on his first serve and 36 percent of points won on his second. He also saved only one of six break points. Nadal did well on his own serve, winning 79 percent of his first serves and 66 percent of his seconds, saving both break points he faced.
Nadal awaits the winner between Adrian Mannarino and Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round.