Rafael Nadal defeated 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in straight sets on Thursday to advance to the second round of the Madrid Open, marking his final participation in the Spanish capital.
The 37-year-old said last week that he was not totally healthy, but he defeated his American opponent 6-1, 6-0 in one hour and three minutes as he continues his comeback from injury.
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, expects 2024 to be his final season of tennis, with this his final appearance at the Madrid Open.
He made his first competitive appearance since January at the Barcelona Open last week, losing in the second round against Alex de Minaur.
The Australian will also be Nadal’s second round opponent in Madrid, as the Spaniard looks to regain form and health ahead of Rome and the French Open, where he has won 14 times.
“I am hoping to do as well as possible and I hope to be competitive against De Minaur,” said Nadal.
“For me it has always been a pleasure to play in front of you all… the support I’ve received here since the first time I played is hard to compare to anywhere else, so I can only say thank you.”
Nadal broke in the second game against the powerful and initially overawed American, who is rated 1,028th in the world.
Blanch scored in the fourth game, but Nadal broke again in the sixth when the teenager sent a forehand into the net.
Blanch survived two break points at the start of the second set, but Nadal converted the third to gain even more control.
The unforgiving tennis great broke again after an intriguing rally for a 3-0 lead, and again when Blanch went long for a 5-0 score.
Nadal served it out, winning on his second match point with a thunderous serve that Blanch couldn’t handle.