Nadal overcomes wobble to advance in four at Wimbledon

Rafael Nadal made it safely through to round two after a four-set battle with Argentine debutant Francisco Cerundolo at Wimbledon on Tuesday.

The Spaniard, who is on course for a calendar Grand Slam following his wins at the Australian and French Opens earlier this year, underwent radio-wave therapy on the nerve in his left foot earlier this month with his career potentially on the line after winning his 14th French Open.

The procedure seems to have been a success as Nadal was given a serious runaround by Argentine debutant Francisco Cerundolo.

But, on his first appearance at the Championships since 2019, Nadal came through in four sets, 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-4 in three hours and 33 minutes.

"After three years of not playing here I'm very happy to be back," he said.

"The last three years I didn't put a foot on a grass court, so it always takes a while in my first match. Every day is a test and this was an important test.

"At the beginning of the tournament and under the circumstances I arrived here, the victory is the most important thing.

"Everyone knows I had to do some things on my foot, but the most important thing is I am in Wimbledon 2022 and I won my first match!"

The Spaniard is now more than halfway towards a calendar-year Grand Slam and would become the first man to achieve it since Rod Laver in 1969 if he can add Wimbledon and the US Open to his Australian and French Opens.

Last year's runner-up and one of the favourites for Wimbledon, Matteo Berrettini, has withdrawn from the tournament after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Italian reached his first Grand Slam final at the All England Club last summer, losing in four sets to Novak Djokovic, and has been the form player on grass this summer.

After recovering