Understanding 'his own limitations' crucial to Rafael Nadal's win against Karen Khachanov, says Mats Wilander

Mats Wilander has praised Rafael Nadal after his 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 win against Karen Khachanov, calling the 2009 Australian Open winner one of the smartest ever players who has adapted to his own limitations to prolong his success. After the match, Mats Wilander in the Eurosport Cube said that, despite his advancing years, the 20-time Grand Slam winner still has fantastic mobility.

Ad/> “I think he's moving brilliantly” said Wilander, but the seven-time major winner reserved special praise for the Spaniard’s intelligence. /> Australian OpenNadal on injury nightmare: I had doubts ‘every single day’2 HOURS AGO Nadal, Wilander noted, modified how early he took the ball against Khachanov, taking into account the player he was playing but also the conditions – his previous two encounters had been day matches.

Effectively, Nadal was, at times, playing two metres closer to the baseline than in those previous encounters, and it proved a fruitful change of tactics. “It was just an absolute brilliant tactical move,” exclaimed Wilander, “by one of the smartest players of all time understanding his own limitations.” Nadal will face either Adrian Mannarino or Aslan Karatsev in the next round on Sunday and puts his success down to his desire for continual improvement.

“I think during all my tennis career I have been improving and improving on all the surfaces. That was always my goal to be a better player in general terms,” said Nadal to reporters after the match.