French Open: Rafael Nadal Eases Previous Alexei Popyrin In Roland Garros Opener | Tennis Information

Rafael Nadal fought again from 2-Five down within the 3rd set to verify he began his bid for a 14th French Open identify with a relaxed victory over Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday. The 34-year-old Nadal, seeded 3rd, raced during the first two units sooner than in the end clinching a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) win over his Australian opponent. “It used to be an overly tough fit with an excellent participant like Alexei. For me it is all the time distinctive and particular to play right here,” he mentioned.

The Spaniard may usurp Roger Federer on the most sensible of the all time males’s listing with a 21st Grand Slam singles identify in Paris.

He began in ominous style for his competitors and has nonetheless now not misplaced a suite at Roland Garros since beating Dominic Thiem in 4 units within the 2019 ultimate.

Nadal will tackle Frenchman Richard Gasquet, in opposition to whom he has received 16 occasions in as many suits, in the second one around.

Questions were requested about Nadal’s shape previous within the clay-court season when he misplaced to Andrey Rublev within the Monte Carlo Masters and Alexander Zverev in Madrid.

However he hit again with the Italian Open identify, beating Novak Djokovic within the ultimate.

He carried that shape into the primary two units in opposition to Popyrin, placing 18 winners previous the 21-year-old.

However the teen appeared in high place to power a fourth set, simplest to omit two set issues on his personal function Nadal confirmed off his well-known powers of restoration.

The reigning champion powered 6-1 transparent within the tie-break sooner than securing a second-round spot on the 3rd time of asking.

“I used to be fortunate to win that 3rd set, I do not know the way (I did),” added Nadal.

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“The start of the fit were very tricky too. In those heat and rapid prerequisites it is all the time very tough. He is younger and the velocity of his ball may be very robust.”

It used to be Nadal’s 101st occupation win on the French Open, in opposition to simply two losses — to Robin Soderling in 2009 and Djokovic within the 2015 quarter-finals.