Nadal finished off a 6-3 6-4,6-1 win in just under two hours in his first competitive match in months
Facing a break point late in the third set, Rafael Nadal sprinted to his left and hit a running, around-the-post forehand that landed just inside the line.
The lingering back soreness that bothered the 20-time major champion ahead of the Australian Open wasn’t going to stop him from finishing his first-round match as quickly as he could.
Laslo Djere, ranked 56th, shrugged, his head dropped and he no doubt wondered what more he needed to do to win a point.
He’d had three break points when Nadal was serving for the second set, and didn’t get close to cashing in one.
When Djere, going for everything, double-faulted to open what became the last game of the match, a woman in the crowd at Rod Laver Arena yelled out “It’s all right, Laslo.” Easy for her to say.
Nadal finished off a 6-3 6-4,6-1 win in just under two hours in his first competitive match in months — he didn’t play for Spain…