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Storming start for Nadal
- Updated: January 3, 2017
Rafael Nadal enjoyed an ideal start to his first Brisbane International after storming into the second round with a straight sets win over Ukranian Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Nadal took only 74 minutes to see off Dolgopolov 6-3 6-3 booking a second round clash with Germany’s Mischa Zverev in the process, who earlier outclassed 17-year-old Australian qualifier Alex de Minaur by the same scoreline.
Dolgopolov had beaten Nadal in their previous two encounters and he started well, breaking the Spaniard’s second service game.
But Nadal broke straight back then broke again to take the first set in 39 minutes.
The 30-year-old world No 9, without a major prize since he won the French Open in 2014, needed only an hour and 16 minutes to win his first match of the year.
Nadal, who played the last match of the day and finished just before …
