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By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 10, 2019

 
Rafa Nadal

Rafael Nadal delivered dazzle in the desert defeating Jared Donaldson, 6-1, 6-1, to charge into an Indian Wells match vs. Diego Schwartzman.

Photo credit: @BNP Paribas Open

Enduring seventy minutes of Rafael Nadal's eye-popping shot-making, Jared Donaldson finally had the Spaniard right where he wanted him.

Only, he really didn't.

More: Federer Uneven and Triumphant

Back to the net, a soaring Nadal conjured a snazzy over-the-shoulder Jai-Alai smash that elicited gasps from fans in the final game.

A relentless Nadal turned every test into an authoritative answer dismissing Donaldson, 6-1, 6-1, to charge into the Indian Wells third round in front of a loud crowd that included Hall of Famer Pete Sampras and son and tournament owner Larry Ellison.




Contesting his third tournament of the year, the three-time champion was energized and efficient in his first match since falling to Nick Kyrgios in a third-set tie breaker in Acapulco.

"In Acapulco, I was not playing bad," Nadal told the media in Indian Wells. "I lost a match that probably I will, in a very high percentage, I will win that match. But that's tennis, and that kind of things happen.

"But I found myself more or less playing well after the accident that happened to my hand, and here the same. I was able to have a good week of practice, playing some sets, working on the things that I need to work." 

The owner of a record 33 Masters titles looked eager from the moment he stepped off the golf cart that drove players to Stadium 1. Nadal smacked six aces, won 17 of 20 first-serve points and did not face a break point in a 72-minute victory.

The world No. 2 improved to 51-10 at the BNP Paribas Open in his first Indian Wells match since bowing to Roger Federer in the 2017 fourth round.

Earlier, five-time champion Federer was a 6-1, 7-5 victor over Peter Gojowczyk.

A night that began with Nadal erupting with shadow swings and kangaroo hops in the tunnel ended with him bounding into a third-round meeting with dangerous Diego Schwartzman.


"Today was a very positive step for me, and next one gonna be against a player that we know each other very well, we practiced a lot of times, and we played some tough matches," Nadal said. "And this one of the best talents of the sport today. So going to be a tough one against Diego."

The 25th-seeded Schwartzman broke Roberto Carballes Baena five times in a 6-3, 6-1 win.



Given Donaldson was playing just his third match of the season after knee tendinitis knocked him off the pro circuit for six months, his early aggression was understandable. Leaving any ball hanging near the center of the court against the world No. 2 is begging for a beating.

The American wild card squeezed shots inside the sidelines, but didn't do enough with the mid-court balls he saw in his second service game.

Dive-bombing diagonal forehands, Nadal snatched the first break in the fourth game.

Following a smash to net, Nadal nudged a drop volley winner then painted the edge of the sideline with a forehand backing up the break for 4-1.




Bursting back from 40-love down in the sixth game, Nadal showed the American no lead is safe. Whipping a 96 MPH forehand bolt down the line, Nadal burst through his second straight break 30 minutes into the match.

The American struck the ball cleanly—for the most part—and tried to take it earlier. Once Nadal wrenched control of rallies with his laser forehand it was off to the races.

Despite serving just 35 percent in the opening set, Nadal was not tested. The Spaniard slashed his second ace down the middle sealing his fifth straight game to snatch a one set lead after 33 minutes.

A two-time Indian Wells doubles champion, Nadal showcased his net skills running down a dropper and answering with a superb forehand flick. That improbable get reminded Donaldson of how Nadal's speed and unerring accuracy shrinks the court.

Unleashing a flurry of uppercut forehands, the second seed banged out the third straight break to start the second set.

Fifty-two minutes into the match, Donaldson snapped a six-game slide with a series of deep drives for 1-2.




Trampolining his topspin drives off the gritty purple court, Nadal played with plenty of height and spin converting his fourth of five break points for a 4-1 advantage.


 

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