Nadal back to his impressive best

RAFAEL NADAL strolled into the second round of Wimbledon yesterday with a performance of such authority that Australian John Millman, No. 137 in the rankings, never had the slightest chance.

It might not sound like much but then Nadal has not made a serious impression on Wimbledon since 2011, when he lost the final to Novak Djokovic. Since then he has gone out in the first round once, the second round twice, losing three times to players from outside the top 100.

But Nadal is back, playing his best tennis in years, and he proved that again on No 1 court, winning 6-1, 6-3, 6-2.

There was never any doubt that he would not fall to Millman as he has done recently enough here to Lukas Rosol, Steve Darcis and Dustin Brown.

It was clear from the very start that Nadal’s old physical power was back. He has had a tough time with injuries recently, not least with his wrist, but he showed at Roland Garros last month that he has rediscovered part of what made him so good.

After a bad 2015 and a dismal 2016 he has certainly won back part of what he lost.

Any lingering doubts about the mobility of the 31-year-old were dispelled, he moved freely around the court, got up and down, and put Millman away at almost every opportunity. For all of the Australian’s earnest running, and the support from the Australian ‘Fanatics’ in the crowd, he could barely ever get close.

Asked afterwards whether his knees would get him to the final, Nadal demurred, but said he was pleased with them so far.

“My knees are ready for the second round probably, that’s all,” Nadal joked. “And I am happy that I am here playing again in Wimbledon and with positive feelings in terms of health. That’s the most important thing.”

“At the beginning I was playing safe,” said Nadal.

“I finished the match hitting some great forehands. That’s the way. I need to play aggressive with my forehand. Obviously I need to serve well.

“That’s the only way that I can have chances to have good result here.”

As the barrage continued, the game was over and Nadal could already start to think about the second round.

That is the stage he went out at two years ago, of course, but he already looks fitter and sharper now than he did then. The second week awaits. – The Independent