Rafael Nadal vs. Sam Groth: Score and Reaction from 2016 French Open

Nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal cruised into the second round at Roland Garros Tuesday with a convincing, 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 victory over big-serving Sam Groth. 

After failing to win the French Open last year for the first time since 2009, the 29-year-old Spaniard established himself as a top contender in Paris once again by easily dispatching a talented and powerful opponent.

Per Jeff Sackmann of TennisAbstract.com, Tuesday’s victory was the quickest and most dominant of Nadal’s illustrious career at Roland Garros:

It’s official — at 1:22, that’s Rafael Nadal’s fastest Roland Garros win. Previous speed record was 1:33, vs Lajovic in 2014.

— Jeff Sackmann (@tennisabstract) May 24, 2016

Nadal’s uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, suggested nerves could play a role ahead of his first-round match, according to RolandGarros.com, but that didn’t appear to be the case on Tuesday: “The first round is complicated because Roland Garros is where a big part of our season plays out. Rafa’s always a bit nervous during the first rounds here. He always has been in the past. I don’t think anything will change this year.”

Rafa was in clear and obvious control of the match from the very start, as he broke Groth on three occasions in the first set alone.

As Pau Ferragut of Ultima Hora Radio pointed out, Groth’s aggressive play worked to his disadvantage:

Not easy to return, but #Nadal breaks Groth at the third game. The aussie is taking a lot of risk and made some DBs. pic.twitter.com/fpjwaw77lc

— Pau Ferragut (@PauFerragut) May 24, 2016

Groth did manage a single hold of serve, but Nadal breezed through the first set in just 25 minutes, and he made it clear that it would likely be a short day at the office.

Since Groth was so …

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