ATP Madrid: Rafael Nadal topples Felix Auger-Aliassime for solid start
World no. 2 and five-time Madrid champion Rafael Nadal is through to the third round at home Masters 1000 event after a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Felix Auger-Aliassime in an hour and 37 minutes. This was the 370th win at this level for Nadal, a much-needed one after semi-final losses in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, heading to Madrid with extra pressure on his back and seeking the first title of the season. Felix had great results on clay Challengers last year and played well against Denis Shapovalov in the first round here to set Nadal clash where he had no chance, losing serve four times from ten opportunities offered to Rafa and creating almost no damage on the return.
The Spaniard landed 71% of the first serve in and sailed through his service games to keep the pressure on the other side of the net, dropping 11 points behind the initial shot and never facing a break point until the last service game when he played some loose shots to extend the clash a little bit. The youngster stayed in touch in the opening seven games before Rafa earned a break after a terrible forehand from Felix, moving 5-3 up and closing the opener with a service winner in game nine for a 6-3 in 40 minutes.
Auger-Aliassime suffered a break at the beginning of the second set when Rafa forced a forehand error and fell 5-2 down after a backhand crosscourt winner from the Spaniard that sent him 5-2 up. Serving for the match in the next game, Nadal faced the first break point and experienced a little setback after a double fault, keeping Felix in contention in the longest game of the match before converting the sixth match point for another break in game nine and the place in the last 16. Rafa had ten winners and 16 unforced errors while Felix counted to nine winners and 30 errors, dominating in the shortest and mid-range exchanges to prevail in straight sets.
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2JrtSne
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