Rafael Nadal has kick-started his preparations for Wimbledon with a routine win at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic.
Wimbledon's second seeded player eased to victory against Stan Wawrinka at the Hurlingham Club in London, with a score of 6-2 6-3.
In doing so, he showed no ill-effects after nerve treatment on his chronic foot problem.
Thanks for the hot shots @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/fwuZ5sNOj5
— Not Rafael Nadal ??? (@RaphaelDabadie) June 22, 2022
Nadal, playing in his first match on grass since 2019, raced into a 5-1 lead.
He broke the Wawrinka serve twice in the opening set and sealed it 6-2 in a little over 30 minutes.
The Swiss, a three-time major winner himself, broke Nadal’s serve in the fifth game, but the Spaniard was rarely troubled and wrapped up the match in just over an hour.
Fans of the 22-time Grand Slam winner had been worried as to whether they'd see their man line out at the All-English club, having been pictured on crutches recently.
Rafa Nadal on crutches after a procedure in Barcelona 16 days before the draw doesn't scream "I'm playing Wimbledon".
Not that I ever massively thought he was but, you know, we hoped. https://t.co/Md0tDIK11z
— James Gray (@jamesgraysport) June 7, 2022
However, Nadal announced at the end of last week that he plans to play at Wimbledon.
His pursuit of a third straight slam is very much on.
