Nadal outlasts Draper to begin Australian Open title defence

Back at the Australian Open for the first time since his epic five-set comeback in the 2022 final, top seed Rafael Nadal won another see-saw match in Rod Laver Arena to kickstart his title defence on Monday afternoon.

The Spaniard delivered in the crucial moments of a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory against 21-year-old debutante Jack Draper to reach the Melbourne second round for the 17th time.

In an all-lefty matchup, Nadal clinched sets one and three with decisive, late breaks to make up for what was nearly a 6-0 second set for Draper.

The Briton went toe-to-toe with Nadal and dominated for stretches, but ultimately fell victim to his opponent's relentless pressure.

As the Spaniard reclaimed the initiative in the third set, finding his forehand from all parts of the court, Draper began to struggle with cramps and required treatment during several changeovers.

Both players produced some of their best tennis early in the fourth set, with Draper claiming his fourth break for an early lead. But Nadal rattled off the final six games as Draper's physical issues hampered him more and more.

The pair's first ATP Head2Head matchup was briefly interrupted by rain at several moments early on, and the action on the court seemed to match the stop-start nature of the contest as both men took turns dictating from the baseline.

After narrowly missing out on the opening set, Draper raced to a 4-0 lead in the second behind his driven forehand, playing with great confidence in his Australian Open debut.

The match was in the balance as Draper clawed back from 1-4 to level the third set, but Nadal did just enough to keep his opponent at bay and squash any hope of an upset, with the fourth set never in doubt.

Playing for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam singles title, Nadal is seeking his third Australian Open title (2009, 2022).

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He will meet Mackenzie McDonald in the second round after the American's 7-6(5), 7-6(1), 1-6, 6-7(10), 6-4 win against countryman Brandon Nakashima on Monday.

On the heels of a semi-final run in Adelaide, Draper was bidding to reach the second round at a Grand Slam for the third time.

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His best major result is a third-round run at the 2022 US Open, where he upset Felix Auger-Aliassime. With defeat to Nadal, the Briton fell to 0-2 against top seeds at the Slams, having lost to Novak Djokovic at 2021 Wimbledon in his major debut.

© ATP Tour

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Men's singles

Monday

Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) bt Jack Draper (GBR) 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1

Mackenzie McDonald (USA) bt Brandon Nakashima (USA) 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/1), 1-6, 6-7 (10/12), 6-4

Dalibor Svrcina (CZE) bt Jaume Munar (ESP) 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN x31) bt Mikael Ymer (SWE) 6-4, 6-2, 7-5

Karen Khachanov (RUS x18) bt Bernabe Zapata Miralles (ESP) 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-0

Jason Kubler (AUS) bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4

Shang Juncheng (CHN) bt Oscar Otte (GER) 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 7-5

Frances Tiafoe (USA x16) bt Daniel Altmaier (GER) 6-3, 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (8/6)

Hubert Hurkacz (POL x10) bt Pedro Martinez (ESP) 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2

Taro Daniel (JPN) bt Ernesto Escobedo (USA) 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3

Denis Shapovalov (CAN x20) bt Dusan Lajovic (SRB) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1

Sebastian Korda (USA x29) bt Christian Garin (CHI) 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2

Yosuke Watanuki (JPN) bt Arthur Rinderknech (FRA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-2

Tallon Griekspoor (NED) bt Pavel Kotov (RUS) 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3

Botic van de Zandschulp (NED x32) bt Ilya Ivashka (BLR) 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3

Tomas Etcheverry (ARG) bt Gregoire Barrere (FRA) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4

Jannik Sinner (ITA x15) bt Kyle Edmund (GBR) 6-4, 6-0, 6-2

Jiri Lehecka (CZE) bt Borna Coric (CRO x21) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3

Francisco Cerundolo (ARG x28) bt Guido Pella (ARG) 6-4, 6-4, 6-3

Corentin Moutet (FRA) bt Wu Yibing (CHN) 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5

12.20: (1.05) Medvedev D. (13.0) Giron M. (1.10)

Tuesday

03.05: (1.45) Schwartzman D. (2.55) Krutykh O. (1.60)

03.05: (1.40) Elahi D. (2.70) Chardy J. (1.55)

03.05: (1.35) Bonzi B. (2.90) Bellucci M. (1.50)

03.05: (1.45) Djere L. (2.55) Bergs Z. (1.60)

03.05: (1.10) Evans D. (5.80) Bagnis F. (1.17)

03.05: (1.40) Dimitrov G. (2.70) Karatsev A. (1.55)

03.05: (1.27) Rublev A. (3.40) Thiem D. (1.40)

04.20: (1.17) Rune H. (4.40) Krajinovic F. (1.25)

04.20: (1.30) Kecmanovic M. (3.20) Jarry N. (1.42)

04.20: (1.12) Carreno P. (5.30) Cachin P. (1.20)

04.20: (1.70) Davidovich A. (2.03) Bublik A. (1.80)

04.20: (1.55) Wolf J. (2.29) Thompson J. (1.70)

05.05: (1.45) Shelton B. (2.55) Zhang Z. (1.60)

05.05: (1.27) Cressy M. (3.40) Ramos A. (1.40)

05.05: (1.03) Fritz T. (9.00) Basilashvili N. (1.07)

05.05: (1.35) Ruusuvuori E. (2.90) Purcell M. (1.50)

05.35: (1.35) Paul T. (2.90) Struff J. (1.50)

05.35: (1.15) Ruud C. (4.70) Machac T. (1.22)

05.35: (1.22) Goffin D. (3.80) Lokoli L. (1.35)

05.35: (1.27) Berrettini M. (3.40) Murray A. (1.40)

06.20: (1.15) Popyrin A. (4.70) Tseng C. (1.22)

06.20: (1.35) Brooksby J. (2.90) O'Connell C. (1.50)

06.20: (1.75) Isner J. (1.95) Mannarino A. (1.80)

06.20: (1.20) Kokkinakis T. (4.00) Fognini F. (1.30)

07.35: (1.10) Bautista R. (5.80) Sousa J. (1.17)

07.35: (1.65) Vukic A. (2.11) Holt Br. (1.75)

07.35: (1.65) Gasquet R. (2.11) Humbert U. (1.75)

07.35: (1.15) Couacaud E. (4.70) Dellien H. (1.22)

***odds are subject to change