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By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, May 3, 2016

 
Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal dismissed Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-3, 6-3, in his Madrid opener to extend his winning streak to 11 matches.

Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open

Prescient anticipation and defiant defense empower Rafael Nadal to extend points.

Nadal played the role of rally killer in stretching his winning streak to 11 matches today.

More: Del Potro Sheds Tears Scoring First Madrid Win Since 2012

Dictating play with his twisting kick serve and declarative forehand, Nadal did not face a break point and did not permit a point on his second serve, dismissing Andrey Kuznetsov, 6-3, 6-3, in a powerful opening performance before an appreciative Madrid crowd.

"I feel how much they support me, and it helps me to play better and win matches," Nadal said of the supportive Spanish crowd. "Gives you extra energy, no doubt about that. It's one of the crowds that helps the local player to win matches. In this tournament I've been able to win matches thanks to this great crowd we have."



 

Game, set and match for the king of clay 💪🏻🔝👏🏻🎾 #MMOPEN

A photo posted by Mutua Madrid Open (@mutuamadridopen) on



Launching his quest for a fifth Madrid Open title, Nadal got off to a commanding start and was never challenged on serve.

Exploiting the high-altitude, high-bouncing conditions, Nadal served 80 percent and dropped just five points on serve, including winning all eight second-serve points he played.

"The serve is, depending on which tournament it's not so decisive, but in this tournament it is," Nadal told the media in Madrid. "Whoever serves well here is going to do well. I think I have been solid with my serve. I obtained a lot of results. I have to try to keep the percentage up.

"During the previous training sessions I also served well. This is important to have options to do good. I'm happy and delighted and hope I'll be able to continue."

Fresh off successive title runs in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, Nadal has now won 13 consecutive sets. The lefthander has not dropped a set since the second set of his 7-5, 5-7, 6-0 triumph over Gael Monfils in the Monte Carlo final last month.

During this streak, Nadal has dispatched six Top 30 players—Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray, Monfils, Philipp Kohlschreiber and Kei Nishikori—and he looked even sharper today.

Urgency was evident in both Nadal's precise footwork and his willingness to drive the forehand down the line. The man from Mallorca won 12 of the first 14 points, wrapping a pair of love holds around a service break for a 3-0 lead.

Banging another forehand winner down the line, Nadal stamped his third straight shutout hold for 4-1. He served 86 percent and won 20 of 22 points played on his serve trampling through the first set.



Entering the match ranked a career-high No. 39, Kuznetsov couldn't gain traction in extended baseline rallies and was missing the mark when he tried changing direction in rallies.

Still, Kuznetsov hung tough for through the opening stages of the second set. Nadal exploited a net-cord shot to break for 4-3 and never looked back raising his 2016 clay-court record to 15-2.




It was a relatively clean match from the fifth-seeded Spaniard who doubled Kuznetsov in winners (22 to 11) and made just nine errors.

Nadal even executed toughest shot in tennis—the high backhand volley—with smooth self-assurance in the second set.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is riding a streak of his own: The reigning Australian Open champion has beaten Nadal six times in a row, sweeping all 13 sets they've played in that span. Asked today if he'd like to face the top seed in Sunday's final, Nadal offered a candid answer.

"Of course if Djokovic makes it to the final and I am in the final too, well, great news. That means I made it to the final," Nadal said. "If I make it to the final, of course I prefer to play someone else rather than Djokovic. I want to have as much points as possible and have as many options as possible to win the tournament. If you play the best player in the world, the options are less. That's all.

"After that, if I have to play against him, I will be delighted and that will be great news, because that will mean that I am playing the final. I will try to give my best, as I did in Indian Wells and as I do in every single match I play against him. Sometimes things work out better and sometimes they don't."

Continuing his quest for his 70th career title, the 2015 finalist will face either French qualifier Lucas Pouille, who knocked off 12th-seeded David Goffin in the opening round yesterday, or American Sam Querrey for a quarterfinal spot.


 

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