No batazo Argentine at the Australian Open. The Corrientes player Leonardo Mayer fell in the second round of the Australian Open against the Spanish player Rafael Nadal by 6-3, 6-4 and 7-6 (4). The world number one did not give any chances to the 52nd ranked ATP player and is shaping up as one of the favorites in the first Grand Slam of the season.
The Yacaré defeated Chilean Nicolás Jarry in his debut, but quickly had to face a much more demanding match. During the first set, the European player already showed his power: he tried to play fast balls and dominate the match to prevent the reaction of his rival.
The most difficult thing for Mayer was to keep up with that frenetic pace, so he did not show confidence in the first 45 minutes of the game, where the Argentine suffered a break in the fourth game and ended up with 13 unforced errors compared to just 6 from the player born in Manacor.
The beginning of the second set was not the best for Mayer, who lost his serve. Nadal continued solid and fast, with no signs of the knee injury that troubled him at the Masters in London in November.
Nadal celebrates his passage to the third round, where he will face Bosnian Dzumhur (Photo: Reuters)
The Rod Laver Arena enjoyed the power and solidity of the world number 1. The Argentine, on the other hand, wasted a great opportunity. He was up 40-0 to make it 5-4, but Nadal won five consecutive points, broke his serve, and served for the match.
When it seemed like the story was already decided, Mayer gathered strength, achieved his first break, and sounded the alarms. But the fire was quickly extinguished by Nadal, who won the tie break 7-4 to secure his fifth victory against the Argentine in as many matches.
Also, check outDiego Schwartzman won a battle and got the first Argentine victory in Australia
Bosnian Damir Dzumhur (30th), who defeated Australian John Millman 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 and 6-1, will be Nadal's next obstacle in Melbourne.
For the other Argentine who played overnight, the story was different. Diego Schwartzman was in full control of the match against 19-year-old Norwegian Casper Ruud and won with a clear 6-4, 6-2, and 6-3.
After the marathon victory against Dusan Lajovic in the previous round, the Buenos Aires player was better than his opponent in the baseline game and secured his place in the third round in one hour and 58 minutes. In the next stage, he will face the winner of the match between Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov and Australian Matthew Ebden, which will take place around 7 AM.
Diego Schwartzman asserted his dominance against Ruud and advanced to the third round of the Australian Open. (Photo: AFP/ Saeed Khan)
It will be Juan Martin del Potro's turn tonight. In the third match (not before 11 PM), the player from Tandil will try to continue the level he showed against American Frances Tiafoe. This time, in the second round, his opponent will be Russian Karen Khachanov. A while earlier, starting at 9 PM, Nicolas Kicker will face Slovak Lukas Lacko.