Madrid Open: Rafael Nadal begins farewell with straight-set win
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Rafael Nadal prolongs Madrid farewell by dispatching teenager Darwin Blanch
Spaniard eases to 6-1, 6-0 victory over 16-year-old wildcardVeteran to face Alex de Minaur in second round of Madrid OpenAs Rafael Nadal prepared to enter the Estadio Manolo Santana for what could have been his final match on home soil, like every one of his matches this week could be, much of the 12,400 capacity crowd filled out the walkway around the stadium. He emerged to a prolonged standing ovation, necks craning to catch a fleeting glimpse of his entrance.It was a moment. The start of a...
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Madrid farewell for king of clay: Rafael Nadal bids for one last miracle
As the end of his career draws ever closer, the ailing 14-time French Open champion faces a race against time to find formTowards the end of last week, before most of the 192 players in the Madrid Open main draw singles had even touched down in the Spanish capital, Rafael Nadal was already pounding balls on the courts of the Caja Mágica in preparation for the coming tournament.The four-times champion’s early arrival made sense. He is, after all, in a race against time to find at least a...
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Rafael Nadal defeats Darwin Blanch in Madrid
Rafael Nadal made a winning start at the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday when he raced past 16-year-old wild card Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0 after 64 minutes. The Spaniard next faces Alex de Minaur.