RAFA NADAL made a winning start to his first match on grass for three years – but it was a tough assignment at Wimbledon 2022.
The two-time Wimbledon champion, 36, was taken to four sets by plucky Argentine Francisco Cerundolo in the first round on Day Two of the Championships.
Buenos Aires battler Cerundolo, 23, was making his debut at this event and yet he could have secured a fifth set after going a break of serve up in the fourth set.
Nadal, who ended up winning 6-4 6-3 3-6 6-4, had not played at SW19 since losing to Swiss rival Roger Federer in the semi-finals in 2019.
Yet he is a man on a mission here, having won the Australian Open in January and then the French Open earlier this month for a 14th time.
Nobody has done the Calendar Slam in men’s tennis since Australian great Rod Laver in 1969.
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That objective moved a step closer as Nadal moved into the second round – he has not lost in the first round of a Slam since the 2016 Australian Open.
Nadal, who will be expected to beat Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis in the last 64, had a minor procedure on his left foot this month to ensure he could play in London.
Nadal said: “All credit to Fran, he started to play great, he was a very tough opponent.
“It has been three years without being here and playing in this amazing place, so it’s amazing to play here on this court.
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“It’s not a surface we play on very often and in my case due to different reasons.
“The last three years I didn’t put any foot on grass court. It takes a while to get used to it.
“It’s my first match, every day is a test. Especially under these circumstances that I arrived here, the victory is the most important thing.
“I can practice tomorrow and have another match in two days, I am happy with that.
“It’s obvious when you play well at Roland Garros, there is not much time between this.
“I used to remember all these beautiful days that I would play Roland Garros and then the next day I was practising at Queen’s.
“My body doesn’t allow me to do this anymore. Nowadays I have to take days off at Roland Garros.
“Everyone knows I have done some things on my foot. The most important thing is that I am at Wimbledon 2022 and I have won the first match.”
