MADRID (AP) — Rafael Nadal couldn’t learn much from his comfortable straight-set win over American teenager Darwin Blanch in the first round of the Madrid Open. Nadal cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over the mistake-prone 16-year-old Blanch on Thursday. “I didn’t test much my body today,” the 37-year-old Nadal said. “I played a decent match doing the things that I had to do to be through, but at the same time I played against a player ... making more mistakes.” Blanch, playing only in his second ATP tour match, made 27 unforced errors. Nadal never faced a break point and was in control from the start against the wild-card entry, closing the match in just over one hour at the Caja Magica center court in the Spanish capital. “I think today I played against an opponent with a great future,” Nadal said. “But today, still making mistakes. I just tried to be there, be solid all the time without taking a lot of risks. It worked well. I’m happy to be through and I wish him all the very best for the future.” |
Jilin eyes stable foreign trade growth in 2024Climate meet witnesses milestone declarationsAsian regional cooperation highlighted at security meetingFukushima discharge case hearing beginsNation eyes record year for vehicle salesFears mount that Italy's other leaning tower may fallXi's Article on Economic Work to Be PublishedChina ‘disappointed' as US blocks Gaza ceasefire for 4th time at UNBlinken's Mideast trip dubbed futile exerciseXi Jinping's Economic Thought Steers China Toward Modernity