Nadal sends out ominous warning
RAFAEL Nadal laid down a marker with a thumping win over Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of the French Open.
The 12- time champion said before the tournament that he expected this Roland Garros to be his biggest challenge because of the slow conditions and heavy balls.
But so far he has looked in fine fettle and American McDonald was allowed just four games in a 6- 1 6- 0 6- 3 victory for Nadal. The No. 2 seed said: “I am working hard in every practice to try to be better and better in every match. Today was not that cold, so that’s the main thing. The conditions are not that bad. I see the [ forecast for] the next couple of days is not very good.”
US Open champion Dominic Thiem is also yet to drop a set but he came close against American Jack Sock, saving three set points in the third- set tie- break before winning 6- 1, 6- 3, 7- 6 ( 6). The No. 3 seed, the beaten finalist at Roland Garros for the past two years, is riding a wave after his success in New York two and a half weeks ago.
Thiem was not helped by the draw in Paris and he will next face in- form Norwegian Casper Ruud, who beat Tommy Paul by the unlikely scoreline of 6- 1, 1- 6, 6- 3, 1- 6, 6- 3.
Diego Schwartzman, who beat Nadal at the Italian Open two weeks ago, continued his good form with a 6- 1, 7- 5, 6- 0 victory over Lorenzo Giustino, while former champion Stan Wawrinka is another dangerman. The Swiss dropped a set to German Dominik Koepfer but looked strong in a 6- 3, 6- 2, 3- 6, 6- 1 victory.
Wawrinka, who knocked out Andy Murray in the first round, is chasing a fourth grand slam title, and he said: “I’m ready. I’m playing well. I’m moving well. I’m feeling good on the court. It’s a grand slam. It can be a long two weeks. It’s match after match. You need to stay into it.”