Easy Win for Nadal, but Spaniard Unhappy with Surface in Madrid


Madrid, May 10 (IANS): Rafael Nadal enjoyed a comfortable debut in the Mutua Madrid with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian Nikolay Davydenko, though the Spaniard raised concerns with the surface in the tennis tournament.

The number two seed never looked to be in trouble and needed less than an hour and 20 minutes to defeat Davydenko Wednesday, who looked neither comfortable nor confident on court.

Speaking after the match Nadal said he was pleased with the way he had played and stressed that the Madrid competition was special for him.

"I try to be in the best condition when I am in Madrid, I got here Thursday to prepare and I never usually arrive somewhere the Thursday before a tournament, so that shows my desire to do well," he was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

One of the reasons Nadal got to Madrid early was to help him adapt to the blue beaten clay surface, which is being used in the tournament for the first time ever. The surface has been criticized by the majority of the players and Nadal admitted he was not happy with it either.

"It's good not to lie and to tell the truth and the truth is that conditions are different here to other clay tournaments," he said.

"If it was the end of the year, then I would say 'Ok' as I have nothing against change, indeed I always support innovation, but not at this time in the calendar," continued Nadal.

"This is a tennis tournament and we are talking about everything other than tennis. The only thing I would say is that I don't have much chance of playing at 'home' in front of fans, who always treat me fantastically. All I miss is that maybe we don't look after ourselves a bit more."

"This is a long way from being a 'clay' court," he reiterated, before adding that he would never use the slippery surface as an excuse for defeat.

"It is the same for all of us and if I lose here it will be because I was not good enough to win," he concluded.

Nadal will face fellow Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco in the last 16 after the number 16 seed enjoyed a tough, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4 win over Colombian, Alejandro Falla.

Meanwhile number five seed David Ferrer also progressed into the next round after beating Radek Stepanek 7-6 (4), 6-2.

  

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Title: Easy Win for Nadal, but Spaniard Unhappy with Surface in Madrid



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