Grass is the least successful surface for the 22-time Grand Slam champion, Rafael Nadal, but he will try to change that this year.
After winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros in 2022, Rafael Nadal has a great motivation to win also at the Wimbledon and US Open to complete a Calendar Slam. Despite a few stumbles, the Spaniard defeated Francisco Cerundolo in his first match on the Centre Court this year.
Everything went well for Nadal in the first two sets. Although, he faced a few breakpoints and got also broken once, he won the first two sets 6-4 and 6-3 and enjoyed a comfortable lead after an hour and 43 minutes.
However, in the third set, he lost a break advantage that he got in the third set and eventually lost the set 3-6. In the fourth set, Nadal found himself 1-3 and 15-40 down. Yet, he could shift the gears once more and eventually win the match 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.
"For me it was 3 years without being here, so I'm happy to be back. In the last three years, I didn't put a foot on a grass. Everyday is a test and today it has been one of the important tests. Victory is the most important thing because it gives me another chance to practice tomorrow. When you play well at Roland Garros, there is not much time in between [Roland Garros and Wimbledon]. I have to take some days off after Roland Garros and also I had to do some things on my foot."
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