Four-time champion Rafael Nadal continued his fine form, beating Russian Andrey Kuznetsov 6-3, 6-3 to win his 11th straight match and advance to the third round of the Madrid Masters on Tuesday.
One break of serve was enough for Rafa to take the first set in which he won 89 per cent of first serves and only dropped two points on serve. Our champ took his chance to break in the seventh game of the second set and went on to close out victory two games later.
After the match, Rafa said:
There is no easy match. From Indian Wells to Barcelona I played great and the results confirm that now on clay.
The fifth seed will next face either Sam Querrey or qualifier Lucas Pouille.
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
Tennis – Madrid Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia – Madrid, Spain – 3/5/16 Drops of sweat fall from Nadal’s face. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la pelota al ruso Andrey Kuznetsov durante el partido de la segunda ronda hoy en el torneo Mutua Madrid Open que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la pelota al ruso Andrey Kuznetsov durante el partido de primera ronda hoy en el torneo Mutua Madrid Open que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Juanjo Martín
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns a ball to Andrey Kuznetsov, from Russia, during a Madrid Open tennis tournament match in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 3, 2016. Nadal won 6-3, 6-3. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal durante el partido de la segunda ronda contra el ruso Andrey Kuznetsov, hoy en el torneo Mutua Madrid Open que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a backhand against Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia in their second round match during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid,Spain. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
El tenista español Rafael Nadal devuelve la pelota al ruso Andrey Kuznetsov durante el partido de la segunda ronda hoy en el torneo Mutua Madrid Open que se disputa en la Caja Mágica. EFE/Chema Moya
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates as he defeats Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Tennis – Madrid Open – Rafael Nadal of Spain v Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia – Madrid, Spain – 3/5/16 Nadal celebrates victory. REUTERS/Sergio Perez
MADRID, SPAIN – MAY 03: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates defeating Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during day four of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament at the Caja Magica on May 03, 2016 in Madrid, Spain.
Strange we haven’t heard from m.o.u t.h.m.o or any of the other trolls that usually stalk this site….is it because Rafa is WINNING of course it is ..They only come here to slate him..
especially the ones who very confidently predicted that he would be eliminated during the early rounds of ALL the Euro clay matches ….. so much for their predictions O_O
I haven’t seen the match but based on the comments, I can’t wait to see the replay.
RAFA fan forever.
Well done Rafa one match at a time !!!
Good, i did not see live but followed the scoreline. Finally more and more matches where Rafa is not facing problem after problem!
bravo Rafa,nw is tym to continue ur comeback n confirm ur legacy as king of clay…i hope you add Roland garros to clay title this year
Rafa fans always have to hold their breaths for his first matches, so this was great to see. Rafa started strong, had a slight lull, and then finished strong. His last game was tremendous.
I urge all of us to not jump ahead, but at least we do not have to read the negative stories like the recent past.
I’m jumping ahead, ….. THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR IS BACK! and he will beat Nole at their next match-up!
Yes I agree Rafa will beat Novak this time if they face each other ! Rafa is playing amazing and he’s so confident with all his second serves all over the court and from the baseline also down the line and passing shots was a beautiful match to look at today
Whhhhhoooooo GO ON Rafa!!!
A routine win for Rafa. Just what we need, coz we don’t want no drama, NOOOO!
Keep it up champ! Good to see those aces and the first serve %.
Good match today. Take rest and all the best for the next round. Vamos Rafa!!!
The Rafa Comeback is fully on track! The devastating forehand is definitely back, with added spin and pace today! I have said for weeks now that Rafa is solidly on a trajectory to beat Nole at their next encounter, could be in Madrid if Nole survives to the final. Rafa’s confidence is finally back, and who knows, maybe Nole’s took a dent after Monte Carlo ……..
Vamos Rafa!
If Nole survives to the final …..hmmmmn……
Does your vocabulary only exist of the word ”hmmmm” ?
yes fruitcake, like the way he did not survive to the Monte Carlo final O_O
LOVE YOU RAFA 💗 💖 💛 💜 💓 💔 💟 ALWAYS. DIDN’T GET TO WATCH THE MATCH, BUT, WAS CONFIDENT YOU WOULD WIN.
ENJOY YOUR VICTORY. BUT,ALSO PREPARE FOR THE NEXT MATCH. KNOW YOU WILL DO SO.
IT IS A GREAT FEELING TO SEE YOU HAPPY N WINNING. I FEEL VERY DEJECTED TO SEE YOU SAD WHEN YOU LOSE.
LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YOU RAFA.💖 ALWAYS.
TAKE CARE STAY HEALTHY. 🍅 🍇 🍈 🍉 🍐 🍑 🍒 🍓 🍍 🍎 🍏.
BIG HUG TO TONY UNCLE AND THE REST OF YOUR TEAM.
Great start to tournament! Confident and convincing. Keep it going!👏👍👊❤️💪👑🏆♥️
WELCOME TO MADRID OPEN SWEETHEART !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ):) ci….ci….ci Senior!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) Exciting beautiful win!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Congratulations on your brilliant victory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Your AMAZING FANTASTIC RETURNS are simply a feast for our eyes!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) So happy for you !!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!! : ) Enjoy your fantastic swift win with your fantastic loyal team and CELEBRATE all night long !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) Singing time : ) : ) : ) Love watching you move and glide and slide and serve and volley and on and on and on….God bless you sweetheart and VAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) Enjoy everything & sending lots of love & happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : )
Love the strong feisty final 3 returns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 The RAFA TOUCH!!!!!! : )
Hmnnn……………..”Thr Rafa Touch”
congrats rafa ……good match…………..just love to watch u
vamos rafa vamos