Nadal enters 2nd round of French Open 2018

Speed Post News Network

Patna : World No 1 and ten times champion Rafael Nadal, 31, Spain, marched into the second round of French Open 2018 defeating World No 129 Simone Bolleli, 32, Italy, in a fiercely contested three-set match on Philippe Chartrier court, Roland Garros, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9), on May 29, 2018, night.

But, it was not a vintage Nadal as Bolelli gave him a very tough run particularly in the third set and crowd was also cheering him for every point he won. Nadal committed 3 double faults compared to only 1 by Bolelli though both of them fired two aces each.

In the third set, which went to tiebreak, Bolelli was at one stage 5-3 up and then 6-5. But, Nadal won 4 break points compared to 2 by Bolelli.  Nadal’s first serve percentage was also only 60 against Bolelli’s 77%. Nadal, however, won 75% point on first serve.

Nadal was leading 6-4, 6-3, 0-3 when play was stopped due to rain on May 28. Nadal won three games in a row to mak it 3-3 when play was resumed on May 29 evening. Thereafter it was a slugfest. Nadal now leads Bolelli 6-0 head to head.

World No 4 Marin Cilic, 29, Croatia, also entered second round defeating World No 1072 James Duckworth, 26, Australia, 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 in the first round on May 29 night.

Women’s Section : World N0 30 in WTA rankings and twice champion Maria Sharapova, Russia, defeated World No 133 Richel Hogenkamp, Netherlands, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, to enter the second round of French Open.

World No 3 Garbine Muguruza, Spain, a former Champion, defeated World No 43 Svetlana Kuznetsova, also a former champion, 7-6, 6-2, to enter the second round.