Tennis: Rafael Nadal Defeats Christophe Rochus
January 21st 2009 15:34
World No 1 Rafael Nadal sent out an ominous warning to his rivals when he blew Belgium's Christophe Rochus off court 6-0 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Tuesday. The Spaniard was in devastating form, serving 10 aces and blasting 44 winners in a virtuoso display of power and precision.
Rochus was almost reduced to a spectator at times as Nadal's ground stokes either landed deep in the corner or hugged the sidelines.
When the Belgian tried something different and came forward to the net, Nadal's passing shots whistled by, leaving Rochus either stranded on the service line or lunging at thin air.
Nadal broke Rochus three times in the first set and barely conceded a point off his own serve as he won the set 6-0 in only 19 minutes.
Rochus finally got on the scoreboard in the ninth game of the match, but with his first serves hovering just below 180kmh and his second serves barely passing 130kmh, every service game was a struggle.
The second set lasted just 10 minutes longer than the first but at least Rochus began to get into the match.
However, Nadal was never in danger and he broke Rochus another two times in the third to take the match in a lightning quick 77 minutes.
Nadal, who took over from Roger Federer as world No.1 during 2009, said he felt little different coming to the year's first grand slam as the world's best player.
"I feel the same - I am just trying to play my best tennis," he said.
"All that's changed is a number."
He said he had been happy being number two and now he was just as pleased being in the top spot.
"But in tennis your career continues - you can't just stop (because you're number one)," he said.
AAP
Rochus was almost reduced to a spectator at times as Nadal's ground stokes either landed deep in the corner or hugged the sidelines.
When the Belgian tried something different and came forward to the net, Nadal's passing shots whistled by, leaving Rochus either stranded on the service line or lunging at thin air.
Nadal broke Rochus three times in the first set and barely conceded a point off his own serve as he won the set 6-0 in only 19 minutes.
Rochus finally got on the scoreboard in the ninth game of the match, but with his first serves hovering just below 180kmh and his second serves barely passing 130kmh, every service game was a struggle.
The second set lasted just 10 minutes longer than the first but at least Rochus began to get into the match.
However, Nadal was never in danger and he broke Rochus another two times in the third to take the match in a lightning quick 77 minutes.
Nadal, who took over from Roger Federer as world No.1 during 2009, said he felt little different coming to the year's first grand slam as the world's best player.
"I feel the same - I am just trying to play my best tennis," he said.
"All that's changed is a number."
He said he had been happy being number two and now he was just as pleased being in the top spot.
"But in tennis your career continues - you can't just stop (because you're number one)," he said.
AAP
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