Rafael Nadal needed five match points before taking out the determined German qualifying player Yannick Hanfmann in the Australian Open on Wednesday and continuing his quest for an all-time world record for the 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal’s Spanish fifth-ranked world player was on top with a 6-2, 7-6, 6-4 win over 2 hours 42 minutes in scorching conditions at Rod Laver Arena to stride into the third round.
“He has a great player who has strong shots, great service, and has a great capacity,” Nadal said of the 126th-ranked Hanfmann, who gave more of a fight than his score suggests.
The next challenge to Nadal will be either Russian 28th seed Karen Khachanov or Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Nadal, who took two service breaks, won the first set in 48 minutes of a backhand winner in the top of the corner.
The skilled Spaniard continued to move Hanfmann throughout the court.
He won another service break by claiming a forehand win for 5-3 and then served out for a two-set advantage.
Another service break early put Nadal at the beginning of the third set. However, Nadal required five match points to win the group.
His 2022 record of 5-0 is a good start after an injury-stricken year, but he’s not yet facing a top-60 player in the coming year.
Nadal Nadal, the only Australian Open champion in the men’s draw, followed the nine-time winner Novak Djokovic’s exile just before this tournament.
Nadal is competing against Djokovic and Roger Federer to reach a record-breaking men’s 21st Slam crown.
Nadal’s 2021 season ended early in August due to his foot injury to the left before the season; he contracted Covid-19.
The Spanish legend has played just 13 times in the last two seasons.
