Rafael Nadal Wins First Match at Mutua Madrid Open
Nadal Reaches Third Round After Defeating Blanch
By ATP Staff | April 25, 2024 | 10:08 am
MADRID, Spain - Five-time champion Rafael Nadal made a strong start to his 20th appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday, defeating 16-year-old wildcard Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0 in the second round.
Nadal, who is seeded second in Madrid, broke Blanch's serve six times and won 80% of the points on his first serve. The Spaniard will next face Australian number one Alex de Minaur, who he has beaten in all six of their previous meetings.
The Mutua Madrid Open is one of the most prestigious events on the ATP Tour, and Nadal is eager to add to his record-breaking tally of 22 Grand Slam titles. The tournament is also a key preparation event for the French Open, which begins on May 28.
Other top players in action on Thursday included world number one Novak Djokovic, who beat American Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-2, and third seed Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Fabio Fognini 6-3, 6-3.
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