Video: Almagro Can’t Break Rafa Down

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Video: Almagro Can’t Break Rafa Down

Rafael Nadal got his bid for a first Miami Open title underway on Friday with a 6-4, 6-2 win over his fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro. In the tricky wind that was swirling at the Crandon Park Tennis Center, Nadal managed to keep his volleys tight to win this incredible tête–à–tête with his compatriot.

The always feisty Almagro tries to hit his way through Nadal, but Rafa doesn’t budge, eventually swatting Almagro’s net-clipping forehand with two hands to earn himself a break point and leave the flummoxed Almagro wondering what he needed to do to win a point.

Nadal was enthused about the state of his ankle, which apparently feels much better though not perfect, and also that he was able to win the big points in the crucial moments against a very dangerous second-round opponent (something he feels he didn't do when he lost to Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals at Indian Wells last weekend).

“Well, yes, I think I did the things well when I had to do,” he said. “I played with no mistakes in the important points. You know, last week I had a lot of opportunities in that match in quarterfinals. It's true that I didn't have a lot of mistakes; he played well. But I lost the opportunities to convert, and it's important to change the dynamic of these things quick. Doing it in this match is important for me.”

Nadal will face either Fernando Verdasco or James Duckworth in the third round.

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