Nadal survives opening-round scare

Third-seed beats Brands to move ahead in French Open .

PARIS:

Rafael Nadal’s bid for an unprecedented eighth French Open title was given a huge scare by unheralded German Daniel Brands yesterday before the Spanish superstar prevailed 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-3.

Defending champion Nadal dropped the opening set of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career as Brands, the world number 59, unleashed a barrage of attacks off both sides to leave the third-seed reeling.

But Nadal, who arrived in Paris having won six titles in eight finals since his return from a seven-month injury lay-off, eventually found his rhythm as the 25-year-old Brands ran out of firepower.

“He was playing unbelievably,” said third-seeded Nadal. “I tried to find my game and resist his fantastic shots. He played a great match and put me in a tricky situation. I am just happy to be through in this fantastic game.”

Meanwhile, Japanese hope and 13th-seed Kei Nishikori moved into the second round with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of Canadian Jesse Levine in just one hour 31 minutes.



Nishikori missed Roland Garros last year due to injury and his previous two appearances at Roland Garros brought second-round exits.

But that record should now improve with his next rival, the unheralded Grega Zemlja of Slovenia, who polished off Colombia’s Santiago Giraldo in straight sets.

And now he is preparing himself mentally for an assault on the world top 10 which now looms tantalisingly close — a far cry from three seasons ago, when a right elbow injury hampered his progress for months.



“The next goal is for sure top 10,” admitted Nishikori. “But it’s not going to be easy. I’m close, but there is really a long way to go.”

In another match, local favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga barely broke sweat as he brushed aside Slovenian Aljaz Bedene 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 to book his place in the second round.

Li, Radwanska ease into next round

In the women’s draw, Li Na, the 2011 champion, and Polish fourth-seed Agnieszka Radwanska were early winners at the French Open.

Sixth-seeded Chinese star Li was a 6-3, 6-4 winner over Anabel Medina Garrigues, the experienced Spaniard playing in her 38th consecutive Grand Slam event.

Li, who had lost all of her three previous meetings on clay against Garrigues, goes on to face Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the US for a place in the last-32.



On the other hand, Radwanska, who has never got beyond the last-16 in Paris, breezed past Israel’s Shahar Peer 6-1, 6-1 and will face America’s Mallory Burdette in the next round.

The Pole, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, came into Paris nursing a shoulder injury which forced her to withdraw from Brussels last week and contributed to second-round exits in Madrid and Rome.

But Radwanska, with her hair now dyed blonde just like her sister, said she is fit enough to last the distance at Roland Garros.

“Well, it’s up and down, but definitely it’s a little bit worse on clay,” said Radwanska. “I think I’m used to the pain. I’m ready to go and I’m 100% fit.”

In another match, Caroline Wozniacki beat Laura Robson 6-3, 6-2. There was also a first ever win in the majors for Slovakian 20-year-old Zuzana Kucova who defeated German 24th-seed Julia Goerges 7-6 (10/8), 6-0.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams met a shock loss, suffering her earliest French Open exit in 12 years. The 32-year-old American slumped to a 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 loss to Poland’s Urszula Radwanska.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2013.