Nadal atomizes a 16-year-old in his first round in Madrid and will meet his Barcelona tormentor in the second round

Successful first round for Nadal in Madrid. MAXPPP – JUANJO MARTIN

Rafael Nadal, who is attempting a final return to form at almost 38 years old despite his battered body, successfully entered the fray on Thursday April 25 at the Masters 1000 in Madrid by dominating 6-1, 6-0 the very young American Darwin Blanch, ranked beyond 1000th place in the world.

Nadal was never put in danger by the young 16-year-old American guest, too fragile to exchange despite considerable power, and won in 64 minutes .

As in Barcelona last week, for his return to school after yet another setback and three months of absence, the Spaniard with 22 Grand Slam titles will face in the second round the Australian Alex de Minaur, 11th in the world and of a completely different caliber.

Twenty-four hours earlier, at a pre-tournament press conference, Nadal had explained that, despite his precarious form, it was important to him to "play one last time" in the Spanish capital. "It’s Madrid, there are a lot of things that mix on an emotional level, which lead me to make the decision to play, for personal reasons", he explained.

"I will play in Paris if I feel I am ready enough"

"If it were Roland-Garros, I wouldn't play, he nevertheless considered. I am not going to play in Paris in the state I am in today." "I will play in Paris if I feel I am ready enough. Otherwise, it doesn't make sense, decided the Majorcan, whose broken-down body has in fact prevented him from playing as he wants since the summer of 2022.

After his winning start on Thursday, "it’was correct", said "Rafa". "It gives me one more opportunity to play here in Madrid and it means a lot to me."

About his next round against De Minaur, expected on Saturday, "I am happy to enter the court once again, I want to do it from best possible, I will try to be as competitive as possible,” he declared. "Of course it's going to be very difficult but it’s almost a gift to have a chance to play again" in Madrid, appreciated the Spanish champion.