Rafael Nadal was happy at his home tournament. © ANSA / JUANJO MARTIN

Madrid: Nadal wins generational duel at the start

The Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal won the generational duel at the Masters 1000 tournament in Madrid and easily moved into the second round.

25 April 2024

From: dpa/tu

The 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner clearly won his opening match on Thursday evening against the 16-year-old Darwin Blanch from the USA 6:1, 6:0. The age difference of exactly 21 years and 117 days between Nadal and Blanch was the largest ever between two opponents at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament.

Nadal afterwards predicted a “great future” for Blanch, but this time the young American “made mistakes that I was able to take advantage of.” Nadal used his greater experience and class from the start against the overwhelmed teenager. How fit the 37-year-old really is after a long injury break will only be proven in the round of the best 64. Waiting there is the tenth seeded Australian Alex de Minaur, who inflicted a painful second-round defeat on Nadal at the comeback tournament in Barcelona the previous week.

Nadal in Paris again?

His performance on clay in Madrid is also likely to have a big impact on Nadal's decision whether or not to play at the French Open, which begins in a month. “I won’t play in Paris if I feel like I do today,” the 14-time French Open winner said on Wednesday, causing a stir. Nadal, who has repeatedly been set back by injuries, wants to end his career in 2024.

At the age of 16, Darwin Blanch played against the old Spanish champion. © ANSA / JUANJO MARTIN

Opening opponent Blanch, who made his debut on the ATP tour just a few weeks ago at the tournament in Miami, admitted before the biggest game of his career so far: "I'm very excited and of course a little nervous." And that's how the wild card played -Owner finally too.

Jannik Sinner was not yet on the pitch in the Spanish metropolis, but scored on Saturday on Lorenzo Sonergo..