Defending champion Rafa Nadal dropped a set but prevailed in a battle of fitness against rising talent Jack Draper to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with an unconvincing 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1 win.
Fellow lefthander Draper played superbly to level the match at a set all on a warm and humid afternoon at Rod Laver Arena but the 21-year-old Briton was soon overwhelmed by cramping and bowed out groaning in pain.
It was a far cry from Nadal's last match at centre court when he came back from two sets down to topple Daniil Medvedev in a classic final and claim his second Australian Open crown. Starting his bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title, Nadal had to shrug off 46 unforced errors to grind down world number 38 Draper and set up his next match against American Mackenzie McDonald.
But Nadal went on to win the next six games in succession to claim the match as Draper's cramping severely curtailed his movement.
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Nadal grinds down injured Draper to reach second roundDefending champion Rafa Nadal dropped a set but prevailed in a battle of fitness against Jack Draper to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday with an unconvincing 7-5 2-6 6-4 6-1 over the injured Briton.
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