Stan Wawrinka - players.bio

Rafael Nadal Wins Acapulco Opener To Match Best Career Start

Rafael Nadal matched his best career start to an ATP Tour season with a victory Tuesday in his first match since capturing the Australian Open title, reaching the second round of the Mexican Open. The 35-year-old Spanish left-hander defeated US lucky loser Dennis Kudla 6-3, 6-2 to book a hardcourt date with American Stefan Kozlov in the last 16. "It has been a positive start, a good victory in straight sets. That's always very positive for the confidence," Nadal said. "I played a very solid match, a good effort today. Of course there are a couple of things that I can do better, but in general terms, I played well so I can't complain at all."

Nadal wins Acapulco opener to match best career start

Rafael Nadal matched his best career start to an ATP Tour season with a victory on Tuesday in his first match since capturing the Australian Open title, reaching the second round of the Mexican Open.

Nadal iguala el mejor inicio de temporada de su carrera

Ya era una gran noticia que Rafa Nadal hubiera tomado la decisión de competir esta semana en Acapulco, pero verlo jugar de nuevo a un gran nivel convierte esa buena nueva en un acontecimiento fantástico para el tenis. El balear venció sin dificultades (6-3 y 6-2 en 76 minutos) al estadounidense Denis Kudla (29 años y 100º del mundo), repescado de la previa por la renuncia de su compatriota Reilly Opelka, que hubiera sido un rival más complicado por su potente servicio. «Un partido muy positivo. Empecé jugando bien, es una victoria en dos sets, que siempre es bueno para la confianza y para continuar. Una actuación sólida para ser el primer día. Por supuesto, hay un par de cosas que puedo hacer mejor, pero no me puedo quejar en absoluto», dijo en la nueva pista central del torneo, con capacidad para 10.000 espectadores.

'He has written history' - Stan Wawrinka says Rafael Nadal is incomparable after 'exceptional' Australian Open triumph

Stan Wawrinka says Rafael Nadal cannot be compared with anyone else in tennis following his achievements. Nadal won his 21st major title at the Australian Open, made all the more remarkable by the fact he was coming back from a serious foot injury. Ad/> But Wawrinka — himself on his way back to the tour after a long injury absence — said he wasn't surprised by what Nadal managed to accomplish in Melbourne.