NADAL MAKES CONVICING COMEBACK IN BEIJING, ROLLS OVER GASQUET BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 30th September 2014

NADAL MAKES CONVICING COMEBACK IN BEIJING, ROLLS OVER GASQUET BY RICKY DIMON

epa04424644 Spain's Rafael Nadal in action against France's Richard Gasquet during their first round match at the Tennis China Open in Beijing, China, 30 September 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL |

Rafael Nadal’s singles comeback got off to a perfect start on Tuesday afternoon at the China Open. Nadal, who had been out of action for three months since Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, crushed Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-0 in the first round. The Spaniard needed just one hour and 18 minutes to advance.

Gasquet was already 0-12 lifetime against Nadal, so the Frenchman had good reason to lack belief even an against an opponent coming off an extended layoff. More of the same in this head-to-head series continued for Gasquet when he dropped serve at 1-1 in the first set.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action against France’s Richard Gasquet during their first round match at the Tennis China Open in Beijing, China, 30 September 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Nadal saved three break points before eventually serving out the opener at 5-4, and after that it was all over. The world No. 2 surrendered a mere three service points–and only 10 points total–in the entire second set.

“After three months without a match, winning against a good player like Richard is a very positive comeback for me,” Nadal assured. “I think I played solid; no mistakes. I’m happy the way I played.

“More important than winning or losing is spending time on court. That’s the key for me at the moment. At least I am going to play two matches minimum here. That’s a positive thing. I’m going to try my best to play three.”

In order to do that, Nadal will have to get past Peter Gojowyczk on Thursday. Gojowycz survived a wild, back-and-forth affair against Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

Joining Nadal and Gojowycz in the Beijing second round were fellow Tuesday winners Novak Djokovic, Pablo Andujar, Pablo Cuevas, Andy Murray, John Isner, Tommy Robredo, Tomas Berych, and Martin Klizan. Djokovic destroyed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2, 6-1 and will face Vasek Pospisil on Wednesday. Murray, fresh off a title in Shenzhen, escaped Jerzy Janowicz 6-7(9), 6-4, 6-2.

Britain’s Andy Murray in action against Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz during their first round match at the Tennis China Open in Beijing, China, 30 September 2014. EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Andy Murray, China Open, Ivo Karlovic, John Isner, Martin Klizan, Novak Djokovic, Pablo Andujar, Pablo Cuevas, Peter Gojowyczk, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Results, Richard Gasquet, Ricky Dimon, Tennis, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Robredo

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10sBalls_com says:

September 30, 2014 at 8:05 am

@RafaelNadal MAKES CONVICING COMEBACK IN #BEIJING, ROLLS OVER @richardgasquet1 BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/Q8xsz9Ajiq #tennis #ChinaOpen
RD_Tennistalk says:

September 30, 2014 at 8:14 am

RT @10sBalls_com: @RafaelNadal MAKES CONVICING COMEBACK IN #BEIJING, ROLLS OVER @richardgasquet1 BY @RD_Tennistalk- http://t.co/Q8xsz9Ajiq…