By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, January 19, 2022
No. 6-seeded Rafael Nadal earned a tough straight sets win to reach the Australian Open third round for the 15th time.
Photo credit: Getty
Rafael Nadal, as the only member of the vintage Big 3 playing at this year’s Australian Open, might be forgiven for perhaps feeling he has a better chance than ever for winning the title once again. But the always humble Spanish superstar showed that he always takes things one step at a time at the biggest events in tennis.
The sixth-seeded Nadal battled but prevailed in two hours and 41 minutes against German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round.
Nadal, who had never lost a second-round match in Melbourne, was familiar with his opponent. They met back in 2019 in the first round of Roland Garros in a match that Nadal won easily in straight sets.
Still, Nadal was prepared for a tough battle and got one despite what the scoreline reads. The German used a tricky kick serve and a potent backhand to keep Nadal on his guard for most of the match.
“I played against him at Roland Garros a couple of years ago. I know he is dangerous, his result against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the first round showed that he was playing great,” Nadal said. “He’s a player with good shots and a good serve. He has a very high potential. I think today his level of tennis was much higher than his ranking says without a doubt.”
Nadal saved two break points in the opening set, both at 2-all, and again at 4-2.
From there, Nadal took the opening set 6-2.
Nadal again faced trouble from the current World No. 126 Hanfmann in the second set. Once again, Nadal prevailed after her struck a deft backhand slice winner to give him the set 6-3.
The 2009 champion Nadal found himself late in the third set with two match points on Hanfmann’s serve. Yet the German saved both to force Nadal to later serve for the match at 5-4.
Nadal would need a fifth match point to finally secure the win when Hanfmann struck a final forehand long.
After the match, Nadal was pleased with the result but admitted he knew he would need to improve for the later rounds.
“I think I need to do some things better but nothing unexpected after a long time without being on court (due to injury). It’s only my fifth match after six months,” Nadal said during an interview with Eurosport UK. “ know that I need to be positive all the time and accept the negative moments that, for sure, are going to be there.”
Nadal will next face the winner of the match between No. 28 seed Karen Khachanov and Benjamin Bonzi.