Rafael Nadal got off to a furious start in his last tournament in Madrid on Thursday. The 37-year-old Spaniard clearly defeated the 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch 6:1 6:0 after 64 minutes in the first round of the ATP 1000 event, which is worth around 9.25 million euros. In the second round – like last time in Barcelona – Australian Alex de Minaur, seeded number ten, is waiting for the 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner.
25.04.2024 19.23
Online since today, 7:23 p.m
The age difference of 21 years and 117 days between Nadal and Blanch was the largest ever between two opponents at an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. The Spaniard afterwards predicted a “great future” for Blanch, but this time the young American made “mistakes that I was able to take advantage of.”
Nadal used his greater experience and class from the start against the overwhelmed teenager. How fit the 37-year-old really is after a long injury break will only be proven in the round of the best 64. Waiting there is world number eleven De Minaur, who inflicted a painful second-round defeat on Nadal at the comeback tournament in Barcelona the previous week with 5:7 1:6.
AP/Manu Fernandez US teenager Blanch only won one game against old master Nadal
Competing at the French Open is still open
His performance on clay in Madrid is also likely to have a big impact on Nadal’s decision whether or not to play at the French Open, which begins in a month. “I won’t play in Paris if I feel like I do today,” the 14-time French Open winner said on Wednesday, causing a stir. Nadal, who has repeatedly been set back by injuries, wants to end his career in 2024.
Opening opponent Blanch, who made his debut on the ATP tour just a few weeks ago at the tournament in Miami, admitted before the biggest game of his career so far: “I’m very excited and of course a little nervous.”
ATP 1000 tournament in Madrid
(Spain, 9,249,713 euros, clay court)
Starting board: Jannik Sinner (ITA/1) Freilos Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6:2 7:5 Pawel Kotow (RUS) Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) 6:3 6:4 Jordan Thompson (AUS/32). ) Freilos Nicolas Jarry (CHI/22) Freilos Flavio Cobolli (ITA) Alexander Tabilo (CHI) 5:7 6:4 6:4 Robert Baptist Agut (ESP) Daniel Elahi Galan (COL) 7:6 (7/4) :6 6:1 Karen Chatschanow (RUS/16) Freilos Grigor Dimitrow (BUL/9) Freilos Jacob Mensik (CZE) Yannick Hanfmann (GER) 6:4 7:6 (7/3) Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) 4:6 6:1 6:4 Adrian Mannarino (FRA/19) Freilos Cameron Norrie (GBR/29) Freilos Alex Michelsen (USA) Joao Fonseca (BRA) -:- -:- Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) Zhang Zhizhen (CHN) 6:3 6:2 Casper Ruud (NOR/5) Freilos Daniel Medwedew (RUS/3) Freilos Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) Christopher O’Connell (AUS) 6:4 6:1 Max Purcell (AUS) Marcos Giron (USA) 4:6 6:4 7:6 (7/2) Sebastian Korda (USA/25) Alexander Bublik (KAZ/17) Freilos Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) Dominic Koepfer (GER) -:- – :- Tomas Machac (CZE) Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6:4 1:6 6:2 Ben Shelton (USA/14) Freilos Alex de Minaur (AUS/10) Freilos Rafael Nadal (ESP) Darwin Blanch (USA) 6: 1 6:0 Peter Cachin (ARG)
Sebastian Ofner (AUT) 6:3 6:3 Frances Tiafoe (USA/20) Bye Jiri Lehecka (CZE/30) Bye Hamad Medjedovic (SRB) Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA) 4:6 7:5 6:4 Thiago Monteiro (BRA) Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6:4 6:3 Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE/6) Bye Hubert Hurkacz (POL/8) Bye Jack Draper (GBR) Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) 6:3 3:6 7:5 Daniel Altmaier (GER) Martin Landaluce (ESP) 6:1 7:5 Arthur Fils (FRA/31) Bye Sebastian Baez (ARG/18) Bye Luca van Assche (FRA) Zizou Bergs (BEL) 6:4 6:7 (0/7) 6 :1 Luciano Darderi (ITA) Gael Monfils (FRA) 6:4 6:2 Taylor Fritz (USA/12) Bye Tommy Paul (USA/15) Bye Lukas Klein (SVK) Pablo Llamas Ruiz (ESP) 6:1 4: 6 7:6 (7/4) Fabian Marozsan (HUN) Aslan Karazew (RUS) 7:6 (8/6) 7:6 (7/2) Francisco Cerundolo (ARG/21) Bye Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG/26 ) Bye Denis Shapovalov (CAN) Facundo Diaz Acosta (ARG) 6:4 3:6 6:3 Borna Coric (CRO) Benjamin Hassan (GER) 6:7 (5/7) 7:5 6:3 Alexander Zverev (GER /4) Bye Andrej Rublev (RUS/7) Bye Facundo Bagnis (ARG) Brandon Nakashima (USA) 6:3 7:6 (7/5) Shang Juncheng (CHN) Corentin Moutet (FRA) 6:7 (9/11 ) 6:2 7:6 (12/10) Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP/27) Bye Tallon Griekspoor (NED/24) Bye Taro Daniel (JPN) Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 6:2 6:7 (1/7) 6:1 Mariano Navone (ARG) Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 7:5 6:2 Holger Rune (DEN/11) Bye Ugo Humbert (FRA/13) Bye Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) Christopher Eubanks (USA) 6:3 6:3 Jaume Munar (ESP) Nuno Borges (POR) 7:5 6:4 Jan-Lennard Struff (GER/23) Bye Lorenzo Musetti (ITA/28) Bye Thiago Seyboth Wild (BRA) Roman Safiullin (RUS) 6: 4 6:4 Alexander Shevtschenko (KAZ) Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 6:4 5:7 6:3 Carlos Alcaraz (ESP/2) bye
