Game, set, match Nadal! 6-3 6-1 6-3. A bit of a struggle for the two-time champion in the early going, but he found another gear as the first set wore on and was in top form for the final two sets.
A fair effort from Sugita as he continues to return to the tour after playing exclusively on the Challenger Tour until this match. He's a solid player, but was just overrun by a ruthless Nadal for most of the contest.
Nadal faces Nick Kyrgios, who beat him here in 2014 as a 19-year old in four sets in the second round. If the Aussie is on his best behavior and Rafa brings his form from the second and third sets, it could be one to remember.
It's been a pleasure to be with you for this match. This is John Lupo saying so long on behalf of everyone from VAVEL and we hope to see you soon!
5-3 Nadal. Rafa finally makes the breakthrough after a marathon game as Sugita goes long with the forehand. The Spaniard serves for the match now.
4-3 Nadal. Love hold for the Spaniard as he moves to within two games from a showdown with Nick Kyrgios in the second round.
3-3. Sugita records another comfortbale hold, but he's making no inroads on the Nadal serve.
3-2 Nadal. Rafa is literally sprinting into the net as he puts away the overhead. He's yet to make the breakthrough in this third set, but you feel it's only a matter of time.
2-2. Sugita with a love hold. Have we said that today? In any case, the Japanese is still in the fight.
2-1 Nadal. A love hold and Rafa is just strolling about now.
1-1. Sugita closes out the game with an ace to stay in it.....for now.
1-0 Nadal. A bricked volley at 15-15 puts the Spaniard in a spot of discomfort and he saves a break point courtesy of Sugita firing a forehand long. The longest game of the match goes Nadal's way.
Gentlemen's winners include second seed Roger Federer, who came from a set down to beat Lloyd Harris, eighth seed Kei Nishikori, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Marcos Baghdatis. The affable Cypriot is playing in his last tournament.
While we have a moment, some updates from other matches today. On the Ladies' side, top seed Ashleigh Barty, defending champion Angelique Kerber, sixth seed Petra Kvitova, ninth seed Sloane Stephens and 13th seed Belinda Bencic were all victorious.
Game and second set Nadal! 6-1. The weight of shot by the third seed is pushing Sugita back, creating openings for Nadal to hit his groundstrokes to. A break to love closes out the set and it won't be much longer until he claims victory.
5-1 Nadal. The two-time champion comes through a complicated game with his forehand getting him out of trouble. He's a game away from a two-set lead.
4-1 Nadal. An easy hold (finally) for Sugita get him on the board in this second set, but does little to change the direction of this match.
3-0 Nadal. The forehand has joined the party as Nadal now is up a double break. Smooth sailing for the Spaniard.
2-0 Nadal. Superb volleying from the 2008 and 2010 champion has Sugita wondering what he can do to stop this avalanche. Nadal has won eight of the last nine games.
Nadal breaks to open the second set. 1-0. The Spaniard seems to be in full flight now as he easily breaks, Sugita starting to be overwhelmed by the Nadal weight of shot.
Nadal takes the first set 6-3! A pair of aces help get Nadal to double set point and after missing out on the first chance, he takes the second to assume a one-set lead after 42 minutes.
5-3 Nadal. The Spaniard breaks with help from his opponent as Sugita's ground game let him down, making multiple unforced errors. The third seed will serve for the first set.
4-3 Nadal. The two-time champion has the bit between his teeth now, a fist pump in that last game a signal of intent to his Japanese rival.
3-3. Sugita responds with a quick hold to stop the run of three games in a row won by Nadal.
3-2 Nadal. An ace closesout another difficult game for the Spaniard who takes his first lead of the match.
2-2. Nadal breaks back on his third chance of the game to level the set.
2-1 Sugita. A huge hold for Nadal as he digs out of 0-40 to capture his first game of the match. Sugita still up a break as we head to the first changeover.
2-0 Sugita. The qualifier holds to love to consolidate the break. Good start for Sugita.
1-0 Sugita. A third forehand error from Nadal hands the underdog the early advantage.
30-40. Another forehand miss from the Spaniard brings up break point for the Japanese!
30-30 Sugita with an aggressive backhand as Nadal sprays a forehand wide.
30-15. Good forehand from Sugita as Nadal slices a backhand into the net.
30-0. It's the Japanese's turn to take a tumble as Nadal hits a forehand winner.
15-0. Scary moment straightaway as Nadal slips after the serve, but Sugita hits it long.
Nadal will serve to open up the match.
Nadal will serve to open up the match.
The players are in warmups and the match should be underway in a couple of minutes.
This is the first career meeting between Sugita and Nadal. The winner will face the winner of the all-Australian matchup between Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson in the second round.
Sugita's career-high ranking is 36, achieved in October of 2017. He is currently ranked 274 after a series of injuries.
Sugita is 30 years old. A native of Tokyo, he has won one career ATP World Tour title, which was on grass in Antalya in 2017.
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What time is Rafal Nadal vs Yuichi Sugita?
The Nadal vs Sugita match will be played on Wimbledon Court 1. The start of play is scheduled at 10:30pm ET.
Despite being ranked second, the tournament organizers decided to seed Nadal third, behind eight-time champion Roger Federer.
Nadal is a two-time champion at the All-England Club, having won the title in 2008 over Roger Federer in quite possibly the greatest match of all time and again in 2010, sweeping past Tomas Berdych.
Hello everyone!
Hello and welcome to Day 2 of Wimbledon! Today we will be bringing you the action from the Gentleman's Singles first round match between qualifier Yuichi Sugita and third seed Rafael Nadal.