This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/jun/24/rafael-nadal-martin-klizan-wimbledon
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal avoids early pitfall to quell resistance of Martin Klizan | Rafael Nadal avoids early pitfall to quell resistance of Martin Klizan |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| Rafael Nadal took just over three hours and four sets to quell the resistance of Martin Klizan in his opening match of the 2014 Championships on Centre Court on Tuesday, the sweat that drenched him springing as much from anxiety and relief as the sun above. | Rafael Nadal took just over three hours and four sets to quell the resistance of Martin Klizan in his opening match of the 2014 Championships on Centre Court on Tuesday, the sweat that drenched him springing as much from anxiety and relief as the sun above. |
| Every match the world No1 plays in a major creates mass interest, of course, but he was aware as everyone watching that to go out early three years in a row would throw his grass-court career into something of a tailspin. Steve Darcis, his 2013 first-round road-block, did not make it into the draw this year, for which Nadal might have been quietly grateful, but next up he meets another irritant from the past, Lukas Rosol, who put him out in the second round two years ago. | Every match the world No1 plays in a major creates mass interest, of course, but he was aware as everyone watching that to go out early three years in a row would throw his grass-court career into something of a tailspin. Steve Darcis, his 2013 first-round road-block, did not make it into the draw this year, for which Nadal might have been quietly grateful, but next up he meets another irritant from the past, Lukas Rosol, who put him out in the second round two years ago. |
| “It is a magic place with unbelievable memories,” he said with no apparent irony after a serious amount of struggle in seeing off the gritty Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. “I know it is impossible to play my best in the first round and, for sure, the next round will be a tough one. For the past three years I didn’t play much on grass, which affects the confidence. [Rosol] is a very dangerous player, hits very powerful shots from the baseline.” | “It is a magic place with unbelievable memories,” he said with no apparent irony after a serious amount of struggle in seeing off the gritty Klizan 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. “I know it is impossible to play my best in the first round and, for sure, the next round will be a tough one. For the past three years I didn’t play much on grass, which affects the confidence. [Rosol] is a very dangerous player, hits very powerful shots from the baseline.” |
| As did Klizan here. The 6ft 4in Slovak played with courage in the shot and several times looked on the verge of embarrassing his esteemed opponent, only to succumb to the sort of pressure that has become Nadal’s trademark. | As did Klizan here. The 6ft 4in Slovak played with courage in the shot and several times looked on the verge of embarrassing his esteemed opponent, only to succumb to the sort of pressure that has become Nadal’s trademark. |
| Surely not, was the unspoken and universal reaction when the Spaniard dropped the first set. | Surely not, was the unspoken and universal reaction when the Spaniard dropped the first set. |
| The last thing Nadal wanted in his first serious match on grass in a year was a lean and powerful lefty hitting the ball at him with no concern for the consequences, but that is what Klizan did to the delight of patrons eager not so much for an upset as a genuine contest. | The last thing Nadal wanted in his first serious match on grass in a year was a lean and powerful lefty hitting the ball at him with no concern for the consequences, but that is what Klizan did to the delight of patrons eager not so much for an upset as a genuine contest. |
| Nadal, who dropped a set against Klizan at Roland Garros last year, did his best to give them the entertainment they craved, although he would have happily settled for a walkover. | Nadal, who dropped a set against Klizan at Roland Garros last year, did his best to give them the entertainment they craved, although he would have happily settled for a walkover. |
| The signs were there from the start that this might be an interesting afternoon. When Klizan punched a wicked forehand across Nadal’s bow for three break points inside the first minute, Centre Court shook a little; when he struck a fourth howitzer long three minutes later, it looked as if this match would go the way of the Slovak’s first-round match here last year, when he lost to Tomas Berdych. | The signs were there from the start that this might be an interesting afternoon. When Klizan punched a wicked forehand across Nadal’s bow for three break points inside the first minute, Centre Court shook a little; when he struck a fourth howitzer long three minutes later, it looked as if this match would go the way of the Slovak’s first-round match here last year, when he lost to Tomas Berdych. |
| But Klizan was having none of that, and it quickly became an absorbing battle of strength, resolve and some very good tennis. | But Klizan was having none of that, and it quickly became an absorbing battle of strength, resolve and some very good tennis. |
| Klizan, ranked 57 in the world, stuck with his esteemed opponent, blow for blow, with an uncomplicated mix of trying to remove the cover from the ball, double faults and aces, and even a nifty drop shot or two, bringing the fans to their feet when he forced Nadal into four distressed forehands to take the first set. | Klizan, ranked 57 in the world, stuck with his esteemed opponent, blow for blow, with an uncomplicated mix of trying to remove the cover from the ball, double faults and aces, and even a nifty drop shot or two, bringing the fans to their feet when he forced Nadal into four distressed forehands to take the first set. |
| Nadal, looking fretful but determined, broke for 4-2 in the second as Klizan fought hard to control the Spaniard’s top spin from behind the baseline, but, even serving to save the set at 2-5, he remained faithful to his method. Nadal had to save two break points before levelling at a set apiece. | |
| Nadal produced one of the winners of the tournament when he fell, got up and stroked a backhand along the diagonal to dip inside the line for break point at the start of the third, and it seemed he had rediscovered his best tennis. He broke and looked to be pulling away before Klizan broke back in the fourth game, and they resumed their ding-dong brawl. | Nadal produced one of the winners of the tournament when he fell, got up and stroked a backhand along the diagonal to dip inside the line for break point at the start of the third, and it seemed he had rediscovered his best tennis. He broke and looked to be pulling away before Klizan broke back in the fourth game, and they resumed their ding-dong brawl. |
| Nadal, stretched near to the limit of his resources, held him at bay long enough to seal the set, forcing Klizan yet again to hit long. | Nadal, stretched near to the limit of his resources, held him at bay long enough to seal the set, forcing Klizan yet again to hit long. |
| The fourth followed a similar pattern of stuttering resistance by Klizan, who refused to bow the knee in the presence of tennis royalty. Serving for the match in the ninth game, Nadal had to save break point to close it out. | The fourth followed a similar pattern of stuttering resistance by Klizan, who refused to bow the knee in the presence of tennis royalty. Serving for the match in the ninth game, Nadal had to save break point to close it out. |
| He celebrated as if he had won the title. | He celebrated as if he had won the title. |
| Nadal made much harder work of beating Klizan than Andy Murray did getting past David Goffin in three sets the day before. It is way too early to be drawing form lines through their performances but they remain on track to collide in the final. | Nadal made much harder work of beating Klizan than Andy Murray did getting past David Goffin in three sets the day before. It is way too early to be drawing form lines through their performances but they remain on track to collide in the final. |
| To get there, Nadal might have to beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals, and the Swiss looked smooth and controlled in accounting for Paolo Lorenzi in three uneventful sets. Stanislas Wawrinka, who has been in fitful form since beating Nadal in the Australian Open final, also has a sound win against his name, after overcoming the talented Portuguese João Sousa, and could interrupt Nadal’s path – if he defeats his compatriot in the quarters. | To get there, Nadal might have to beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals, and the Swiss looked smooth and controlled in accounting for Paolo Lorenzi in three uneventful sets. Stanislas Wawrinka, who has been in fitful form since beating Nadal in the Australian Open final, also has a sound win against his name, after overcoming the talented Portuguese João Sousa, and could interrupt Nadal’s path – if he defeats his compatriot in the quarters. |
| But those are suppositions based on history – and, as Darcis and Rosol know, history is some times bunk. | But those are suppositions based on history – and, as Darcis and Rosol know, history is some times bunk. |
| This was Nadal’s 700th Tour-level victory, but not one of his best. He will no doubt hit a more pleasing rhythm over the coming days – provided Rosol does not again rise to the heights. | This was Nadal’s 700th Tour-level victory, but not one of his best. He will no doubt hit a more pleasing rhythm over the coming days – provided Rosol does not again rise to the heights. |
| Rosol had a fight of his own on Court Five, but took an hour less than Nadal to win in four sets against the France’s cultured strokemaker Benoît Paire. Paire hit 19 aces but the Czech soaked it up to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. | Rosol had a fight of his own on Court Five, but took an hour less than Nadal to win in four sets against the France’s cultured strokemaker Benoît Paire. Paire hit 19 aces but the Czech soaked it up to win 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4. |
| It was a match of blistering shot-making, with 106 winners between them. | It was a match of blistering shot-making, with 106 winners between them. |