By Erik Gudris | Saturday, June 28, 2014

 

Rafael Nadal, despite dropping the opening set yet again at Wimbledon, powered through into the fourth round.

Photo Source: Kieran Galvin/Camerasport

Rafael Nadal returned to the second week at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011 after needing yet another four set win.

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The No. 2 seed Nadal faced off against Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan under the roof of Centre Court. That was due to heavy rain that postponed matches on outside courts.



Despite Kukushkin having only three career wins on grass, the World No. 63 started with inspired tennis against a rather flat-looking Nadal in the opening set.

Nadal, who did not handle Kukushkin's second serves well, found himself in a first set tiebreak. Kukushkin reeled off two forehand winners to open up a 3-1 lead. Kukushkin soon found himself with several set points after Nadal fell behind in a rally and ended up netting a backhand.

Nadal would send one more backhand long thus giving Kukushkin the set 7-6(4).

That marked the third opening set in a row at the Championships Nadal lost in three straight matches.

Things changed dramatically as Nadal found his return game in the second set. Several piercing backhand returns from the two-time champion earned Nadal his first break of the match. Kukushkin, who hit 17 winners in the first set, found fewer from them on his racquet this time with only 5 total.

After that, Nadal would take the set 6-1.

Kukushkin, who took slipped up at net early in the third set, could never find the same stirring form he had earlier. Falling behind an early break in both the third and fourth sets, Kukushkin would win only two more games in the match.

A final potent forehand from Nadal sealed the 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory.

Nadal hit 41 winners total and just 12 unforced errors.

"I'm very happy to be in the second week after two years losing in the first and second rounds. I am fighting for every ball and playing to find right solutions in every game," Nadal later told the BBC.

Nadal is now into the second week of Wimbledon for the first time since 2011. He will next face either Nick Kyrgios or Jiri Vesely.