Rafael Nadal confirmed no indicators of ache because the 13-time French Open champion marched into the second spherical at Roland Garros with scientific 6-2 6-2 6-2 demolition of Australian Jordan Thompson on Monday.
Nadal faces Corentin Moutet within the second spherical after the Frenchman beat 2015 champion Stanislas Wawrinka.
The Spaniard, who had by no means arrived in Paris as unprepared as this 12 months after a rib harm and a continual foot downside hampered the build-up to his beloved Grand Slam event, was by no means bothered on a cold courtroom Philippe Chatrier.
"It is unimaginable for me to play right here once more on Chatrier. I am pleased with this win. First spherical is at all times particular," mentioned Nadal.
The 35-year-old, who has a document 21 males's Grand Slam titles to his title, performed down the possibilities of including to his tally however his show was paying homage to these of earlier years.
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Nadal broke for 2-1 with a backhand volley winner and his huge forehand helped him rapidly transfer 4-1 up in opposition to an overwhelmed opponent.
The fifth seed regarded to complete off some factors rapidly and made a number of uncommon unforced errors, however they have been of little consequence as he breezed by way of the opening set.
Nadal broke serve within the first recreation of the second set and once more within the fifth and seventh as he began to play extra neatly, bagging it with a service winner.
Thompson, who pulled a break again, regarded fully worn out by then however managed to carry it collectively till 2-2, when Nadal broke with a forehand volley and received all the remainder of the video games.
Unready former French Open champion Wawrinka despatched packing
Three-time main champion Stan Wawrinka crashed out within the first spherical to Frenchman Corentin Moutet in his first Grand Slam look in 18 months.
The 37-year-old Swiss, who didn't play for a 12 months after struggling a foot harm early in 2021 and having surgical procedure twice, paid the worth for a scarcity of match follow with a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3 loss in just below three hours.
"I began nicely and it was first set however sadly it was disappointing to lose," Wawrinka informed a information convention.
"Sadly that is the truth of how I play in the intervening time. I want coaching, quite a lot of work. I'm taking part in nicely however not on the degree for matches like that. That is the truth sadly of the place I'm."
Wawrinka had solely returned to motion at a Challenger Tour event in March, but it began nicely for the Swiss, the winner in Paris in 2015.
He confirmed no lingering results from his harm when he needed to stretch in a full dash to whip a shocking forehand down the road to earn a fast early break and go 3-1 up within the first set.
Two consecutive double faults by wildcard Moutet handed the primary set to Wawrinka however the tables have been turned with the Frenchman bagging the second set after mixing it up and charging to the web extra typically.
Moutet broke the Swiss once more to take the lead within the third as Wawrinka's first serve faltered and unforced errors started to rise.
"The frustration doesn't come from a comparability of my previous degree however as a result of I do know I might have achieved extra and that some issues didn't go nicely," Wawrinka mentioned.
Moutet wasted two set factors at 5-2 and survived a short Wawrinka comeback earlier than clinching the third comfortably within the tiebreak and racing by way of the fourth to ebook a spot within the second spherical.
