ROME – Rafael Nadal trailed by a set against qualifier Zizou Bergs but rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in his opening-round match at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome.
Nadal, dominant on clay courts in his career, has won 10 times in Rome. Throughout 18 Italian Opens, he had lost just once in the opening round, but three double faults and two service breaks gave Bergs, of Belgium, the opening he needed to grab the first set and hope of winning the two-hour, 54-minute match.
“It was not my best match. I was practicing better than how I played without a doubt but I found a way to win,” Nadal said according to Reuters.
“That is so important at the beginning of the tournament. My game is more unpredictable than before. I didn’t play much tennis for the past two years, so it is up and down. I think I can do much better than I did and hope I can do it in the next round.”
Nadal, 37, has missed much of that time largely due to a hip injury. In what is expected to be his final ATP Tour season, the Spaniard undoubtedly wants a good showing in Rome leading to the French Open, which he has won a record 14 times.
In the second set, Nadal settled in and fought off five break points and converted two against Bergs, moving well on the court.
The packed house appreciated his play. “It is always emotional to play here,” Nadal said.
“One of the most important events in my tennis career. The crowd has always been amazing with me, supporting me since the beginning of my tennis career, so super excited to play one more time here.”
In recent weeks, Nadal has openly discussed the ups and downs of his level and how it is not as consistent as it was during his best years. He added that a match like the one he played Thursday helps.
“I felt myself before the match ready to play at the good level of tennis because I am feeling the ball much better on the practice sessions than what I felt in Barcelona and in Madrid,” Nadal said.
“I feel myself closer. That’s why I was on the court even without playing well but telling myself I need to go through and explore the options that I can do much better the next day because my feelings on practice are much better than what I had, the level I showed on court.”
Nadal admitted he might not play his best against Hurkacz, one of the biggest servers on the ATP Tour. But that does not change his mindset.
“I hope to be able to play much better than today, to start thinking another way,” Nadal said. “Let’s see. I mean, I am excited with the victory. That’s given me the chance to keep going. I am very happy for that.”
Other early winners included Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil, Dominik Koepfer of Germany, Italians Matteo Gigante and Stefano Napolitano, Serbs Miomir Kecmanovic and Hamad Medjedovic, Jaume Munar of Spain and Corentin Moutet of France.
Serbian qualifier Medjedovic earned victory on his Internazionali BNL d’Italia debut when he moved past Australian Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 6-2 to reach the second round in Rome.
The 20-year-old Medjedovic dictated with his powerful game in his first Lexus ATP meeting with Popyrin, winning 88 per cent (21/24) of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to triumph after 76 minutes. He will next play Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
“It was good all round. I served great, moved really well. Return was good. I tried to be aggressive when I could,” Draper said.
“I thought Borna played excellent in the first set. It was tough, we were both going at each other. Then I think my quality was good enough and I won a lot of those tight points to get through.”
The 34-year-old, who captured his first tour-level title on clay in Munich earlier this season, fell to Carlos Alcaraz in a third-set tie-break in Madrid last month in the fourth round.
