Nadal: "A month and a half ago I didn't know if I would play professionally again"

• 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 against Giron A debut to be shot in Melbourne

• First round Draw and results in Melbourne

The dominance in the debut at Melbourne Park against

resulted in 34

and 84% of points won with his first service. However, the victory in just under two hours was not what left a fierce competitor like

most satisfied . "A month and a half ago, with so many problems with my left foot, I didn't know if I would play tennis again at a professional level. So the fact of enjoying the circuit again and seeing myself competitive in training against good people gives me a lot of energy" , assured the Spaniard after his happy start at the Australian Open.

"This is what it's all about at this point in my career, where the most important thing is to enjoy the things that motivate me. Every day is being positive. And this is the most important thing, which helps me to continue with the determination to fight for the things that excite me", added Nadal in the Eurosport microphones. At the moment, after the absences of

, due to injury, and

, expelled from Australia for his position on the Covid vaccine, he is the only one with options to add the 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Gone are the four months off due to Müller-Weiss syndrome, the chronic disease he suffers from in his left foot.

After proclaiming himself champion in the Melbourne Summer Set, in the ATP 250 category, Rafa still has to fine-tune his preparation on one side of the draw where substantial rivals will soon emerge.

In the third round he could face

would wait in the second round and

in the quarterfinals

.

only six games

For now, the most immediate commitment will be elucidated on Wednesday against

, from the previous one. The 30-year-old German is stepping into the second round of a Grand Slam for the first time and is emerging as another opponent to add flight hours to. During the only precedent between the two, at Roland Garros 2019, Nadal only gave up six games (6-2, 6-1, 6-3), which further reduces the margin for surprises.

The warmth of the

fans is another incentive for Nadal, who this Monday climbed to fifth position in the ATP, unseating Andrey Rublev.

At the moment, in addition to Djokovic, other members of the NextGen such as

, Zverev and

, have a better profile to lift their first title at the Rod Laver Arena.

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Know more

• sports

• tennis

• Rafael Nadal

• Novak Djokovic

• Australian Open

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