By Chris Oddo | Sunday, January 18, 2015
Rafael Nadal answered a lot of questions about his early season form with a straight sets rout of Mikhail Youzhny on Day 1.
Photo Source: Ryan Pierse/Getty
Call him pretty in pink, poetry in motion or the bull on parade. Whatever you call him, make sure you count him as a contender for this year’s Australian Open title.
More: Dimitrov Takes Down Brown in Steady Opener
Rafael Nadal was impressive from start to finish during his 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 drubbing over Mikhail Youzhny, earning his first tour-level victory since October, and gaining some much needed confidence for the battles to come later in this Australian Open fortnight.
“First big test of the season in a five-set match at a Grand Slam,” said Nadal. “I hope this match will give me confidence to play well next round.”
Nadal, who told reporters before the tournament that he still needed time to get his movement and timing straightened out, was relentless and fluid from the open against Youzhny.
He saved the only break point he faced while clocking 37 winners against 15 unforced errors.
“I played four matches in the last seven months,” said Nadal. “That’s not enough to go on court with the right feeling. But I think the day before the match I started to practice a lot better.”
Nadal, who had dropped four previous decisions in 15 tilts against Youzhny, never gave the animated Russian any breathing room. Even when Youzhny tried to rally the crowd behind him with some masterful points in the third set, Nadal was there to close the door without any complications. He reeled off the final four games of the match to close proceedings in one hour and 50 minutes.
The Spaniard improved his record at the Australian Open to 42-8 with the victory and he sets up a second-round encounter with either Tim Smyczek or Luke Saville.
In other first-round action on Day 1, 6th-seeded Andy Murray took out Yuki Bhambri, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3), while 7th-seeded Tomas Berdych also won in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-3 over Alejandro Falla.
Tweets