Rafael Nadal won his first singles match since destroying Roger Federer in the French Open final as the Spaniard advanced to the third round at Queen’s Club on Wednesday.
The French Open Champion enters third round of the Queen’s club tournament
LONDON: Rafael Nadal won his first singles match since destroying Roger Federer in the French Open final as the Spaniard advanced to the third round at Queen’s Club on Wednesday.
Nadal was back in action just three days after his astonishing three-set rout of world number one Federer in Paris, but there was no hangover here as Jonas Bjorkman was put to the sword 6-2, 6-2.
This was the perfect way for Nadal to mark the start of his campaign to unseat Federer as the Wimbledon champion. His dominance over the Swiss on clay is unquestioned, but successive final defeats to Federer at the All-England Club are a constant regret for such fierce competitor. Bjorkman is a seasoned grass court campaigner but he was no match for Nadal’s potent mix of power and poise from the baseline.
Nadal was quick to impose his will on Bjorkman by breaking the veteran Swede in a long third game. There was no way back for Bjorkman after that.
The world number two eased through for the loss of just four games and is already looking in ominious form. Kei Nishikori, his next opponent, has been warned. Japanese teenager Nishikori continued his dream debut at Queen’s with a 7-6 (10/8), 6-3 win over unseeded Frenchman Olivier Patience.
Lleyton Hewitt kept up his challenge for a record fifth Queen’s title as the Australian moved into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 win against Xavier Malisse.
Andy Roddick, the other man chasing five Queen’s titles, recovered from a slow start to get his bid up and running with a 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-1 victory over Robby Ginepri.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}