Nadal, the back held, the beast is launched

The game does not support the slightest drop in speed.

Intensity should be produced from the start of the warm-up until the match point.

Forced, attentive and nervous spectator of the ATP Cup, stuck in the starting blocks as a precaution, Rafael Nadal lived the final stretch of preparation for the Australian Open encumbered with pain in the lower back.

"I do not feel very good.

It has been going on for fifteen days.

When the days go by and the problem does not go away, we always try to find solutions.

This is what we did and what we continue to do.

What I can say is that I am doing everything to be ready. "

Rafael Nadal is capable of resisting pain, as well as pressure.

Grit his teeth, he has done it many times.

Especially in Melbourne in a tournament where he had good times (a title in 2009, 4 unfortunate finals in 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019), in which he also collected injuries: forced to retire in the quarterfinals in 2010, reduced in 2011, he lost in the quarterfinals.

He suffered from a new injury (back) in the final in 2014. In 2018, he still had to give up in the quarter-finals ...

A past that called for caution.

Rafael Nadal, smoking nostrils, straight bust, gestures and tics adjusted, took the Serbian Laslo Djere (56th world) at the entrance, offering a quick break to lead 2-0.

Before knowing a brief alert with the loss of his lost serve (white) while serving for the gain of the first set at 5-1.

The set set in his pocket, he then released the same energy, did not have time to give up grimaces and validated - 6-3, 6-4, 6-1 in 1h52 - his qualification for the second round ( against the Serbian Viktor Troicki or the American Michael Mmoh).

VAMOS @ RafaelNadal |

# AO2021 |

# AusOpenpic.twitter.com / R89B9S0in4

- #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 9, 2021

Service was the area of ​​play that concerned him the most.

The Spaniard did not suffer (5 aces; 83% of points scored on his 1st service; 1 double fault).

Rafael Nadal launched, reassured, cap well pressed, clear ideas could sum up: “There were fifteen difficult days.

I had to survive today.

I had what it took to play.

Now it's a daily job… ”

Read also

• Men's Australian Open results

• Women's Australian Open results