PARIS, May 29, 2019
Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round of the French Open. The 11-time champion at Roland Garros remained untroubled in his 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Yannick Maden from Germany, who battled through the qualifying to make his third Grand Slam main draw appearance.
Nadal won 73 per cent of his first serves, hitting 43 winners to prevail after two hours and nine minutes on Court Suzanne-Lenglen.
“I don’t like the word “easy,” because when you win it always looks easier. When you play well, things looks easier. When you are playing bad, things looks very difficult,” Nadal said. “It’s never easy, but I can it was a comfortable victory. I was in control most of the time. And that’s the only thing that really matters.”
Just another day for the King of Clay, @RafaelNadal
Highlights of the Day by @emirates #RG19 pic.twitter.com/yZtKr2W8dw
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 29. Mai 2019
Next up for Nadal will be David Goffin. The 27th seed from Belgium defeated Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 49 minutes.
“He’s a very complex player. He has all the shots. He’s a player with an amazing career, and we practiced a lot of times. We know each other well,” Nadal commented about his upcoming opponent. “He is quick. He has very
good angles. Gonna be a big challenge in the third round. I gonna try my best to be ready for it.”
Federer defeats German no-name
Over on Court Philippe-Chatrier, Roger Federer made quick work of German lucky loser Oscar Otte. The Swiss Maestro, who hadn’t heard of the 25-year-old from Cologne before, emerged victorious from the pair’s first meeting, winning 6-4, 6-3, 6-4.
Federer capitalized on three of his four break point chances to prevail in only one hour and 36 minutes. He will face Casper Ruud of Norway next.
“I must say I feel really good, you know, considering I haven’t played here in that long,” Federer has been pleased with his performance in Paris so far. “Especially if I think back a few weeks and months ago before Madrid, didn’t know how successful I was going to play or how I was going to feel on the clay.”
In case you needed a reminder, @rogerfederer always delivers 📦🤣👕#RG19 pic.twitter.com/c7OXFqBx7l
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 29. Mai 2019
Tsitispas, Wawrinka advance
Stefanos Tsitsipas was also amongst the winners on Wednesday. The No. 6 seed from Greece fought past Hugo Dellien of Bolivia 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes.
Stan Wawrinka easily past Houston and Munich champion Cristian Garin from Chile, winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-0. The encounter only lasted one hour and 40 minutes.
“I know how well I can play,” said Wawrinka. “I’m happy with the way I have been playing today… I was really aggressive, moving much better than the first round.
“I like the conditions, I know how well I can play here. I know how well I have been practising and pushing myself to play a match like that. I’m happy with today, but this is just one match, so I just want to be ready for the next one… After the [knee] surgery it took me a little while to get back fit and ready to play like today.”
Wawrinka will next play Grigor Dimitrov, who overcame Croatian No. 11 seed Marin Cilic 6-7(3), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-3 in four hours and 24 minutes.
“Every win that I have now, I appreciate it,” admitted Dimitrov. “I don’t really think of who I’m playing against. I just want to have those wins… It was a very, very important match to me, without a doubt, though. Clearly I have struggled the past two, three months. The shoulder hasn’t been great. So a lot of moving parts. A lot of changes overall. I feel great, and I’m very, so to speak, focused and excited for what’s ahead.”
