Nadal eases injury doubts with dominant win at Open

TIL Desk Sports/ Rafael Nadal says he has no doubts over a knee injury as he destroyed his opening round opponent at the Australian Open on Monday.

The world No.1, a beaten finalist to Roger Federer in Melbourne last year, clinically took apart Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in 94 minutes in the night match on Rod Laver Arena. The Spaniard will play Leonardo Mayer of Argentina in the second round.

Nadal, who is gunning for a 17th major title, was hampered by a knee injury at the tail-end of the 2017 season. It forced him to skip the lead-up Brisbane International this month, and he only had a one-match workout at the exhibition Kooyong Classic in Melbourne ahead of the open.

But he said his troublesome right knee felt absolutely fine during his rout of Estrella Burgos. “It’s feeling good,” Nadal said. “If I did not feel myself ready I would not be here. I am happy to be here and happy to be on court again. I always have doubts, but at the same time I have confidence that I was ready to start the tournament and that was the case.”