reuters
Paris, May 26: Defending champion and sixth seed Rafael Nadal did not show any signs of the ill form that has plagued him this season as he brushed aside the challenge of Quniton Halys 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round of the French Open here Tuesday. Following him was top seed and this year’s favourite Novak Djokovic. The Serb trounced Jarkko Nieminen 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.
In a season where he has already suffered five clay court losses and coming into the tournament as a clear underdog, Nadal took a little time to settle down. But once his dreaded forehand started finding its mark and the lines with monotonous regularity, Halys just became a hapless spectator. The margin of victory could have been more emphatic had Nadal been little more proficient on his backhand side.
In another match seventh seed Ferrer, runner-up to Nadal two years ago, needed little more than an hour to thrash Slovakian Lukas Lacko 6-1 6-3 6-1, about the same time US Open champion Marin Cilic required to hammer Dutchman Robin Haase 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.
Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, the women’s champion in 2009, was made to work hard by powerful Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens, winning 6-1, 4-6 6-2.
As an aperitif to the centre court menu, double Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova fought past New Zealander Marina Erakovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Following her on to the court top seed Serena Williams destroyed Andrea Hlavackova 6-2, 6-3.
At 33, Ferrer is running out of time to embellish his admirable career with a Major title but if he never does, it will not be for the want of trying.
The 2013 runner-up racked up his 37th career win at Roland Garros, second only among Spaniards, to the 66 Nadal has earned in a decade of unprecedented dominance at the clay court Slam.
Ferrer lost his opening service game but was untroubled thereafter as he swept past the World No. 94. It was Ferrer’s 300th victory on clay.
“Any match on clay is difficult,” stated Ferrer. ‘Simply because you just can’t finish off points. You have to wait, watch and then attack. It is always a game of patience on clay.”
In an earlier match played in the morning, Caroline Wozniacki breezed past Italian Karin Knapp 6-3, 6-0. The Dane from three-all in the first set took nine games on the trot as the first round matches petered on to the third day.
Meanwhile, in men’s doubles, India’s Mahesh Bhupathi bowed out in the first round itself. Bhupathi and his partner, Nick Kyrgios lost 3-6, 1-6 to T Kokkinakis and L Pouille. Both Bhupathi and his Australian partner Kyrgios looked out of sorts during the match.
