Fighting-fit Nadal powers past Baghdatis to reach third round
Spaniard relishes clash with talented young German player Zverev
Rafael Nadal set up an enticing third-round showdown with rising German star Alexander Zverev after powering past Marcos Baghdatis at the Australian Open yesterday.
Ninth-seeded Nadal, hoping to improve on an injury-hit 2016, was too strong and accurate for the 36th-ranked Baghdatis winning 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in 2hr 13min.
Nadal, who beat Roger Federer in the 2009 Australian final, will step up his challenge for a second title against the 19-year-old German in a draw now missing six-time winner Novak Djokovic.
“It will be a high-quality match against a potential Grand Slam winner and a future world No. 1,” Nadal said of his match with Zverev.
“I have no injuries and I can’t ask for more right now,” he added.
In his 10th meeting with Baghdatis, Nadal dominated proceedings against the 2006 finalist, cracking 16 forehand winners and only dropping his serve once.
Nadal broke Baghdatis’s serve twice and gave one break back in taking the opening set in 48 minutes.
But the 14-time Grand Slam champion got down to work in the second set with three service breaks to race to a two-love sets lead.
Nadal broke in the sixth game of the final set when Baghdatis double-faulted to close in on victory.
“When you have been away, off the tour for a while, you need to come back. The thing that you need is to win,” Nadal said.
“I know I have been working great. I know I have been working a lot and very well. I have been practising at high level. So every time that I have the chance to go on court, I am able to have more confidence on what I’m doing.”
Nadal is bidding to win his second Australian title and become the first man in the Open era — and only the third man in history — to win each of the four Grand Slam titles twice.
Roy Emerson and Rod Laver are the only players to have won each Grand Slam on two or more occasions.
World No. 9