Rafael Nadal despite appearing in his first tournament since February looks to be in tip-top form as he cruised past 2019 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters finalist Dusan Lajovic 6-1, 6-3 on Friday at the Italian Open.
Nadal has also only lost six games in his first two matches, including a 6-1, 6-1 triumph against US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta on Wednesday.
The nine-time champion has won an impressive 73 percent of his return games including the win against Lajovic, which has now earned him his 15th Rome quarter-final.
“The first set it was 6-1, but a super tough beginning of the match. A lot of good points,” Nadal said. “[I’m] very happy, it’s an important victory for me after such a long time. To start the tournament with these two victories is great news,” Nadal says.
“I played at, I think, a very positive level of tennis. Of course, it needs to keep improving. I need to keep working on a couple of things that are not coming automatically. But I can’t ask for more.
“[It was] another great evening for me against another good opponent. Can’t complain at all. Much better [than] what I expected.”
Lajovic is a clay-court specialist as well, reaching the Monte Carlo final and lifted his maiden ATP Tour trophy on Umag’s clay. But Nadal did well to keep the World No. 25 on the move with different maneuvers around the court.
“I know Dusan can play great shots. He’s a player with a lot of spin, a lot of power in the hand,” Nadal says. “I needed consistency. I needed to let him play from the back, not from comfortable positions.”
World No. 2 Rafael Nadal leads Lajovic 3-0 in their ATP Head2Head series. He has won seven of their eight sets by a margin of 6-3 or greater.
Nadal and eighth seed Diego Schwartzman will square off next in the quarter-final.
“[It] always has been very tough and tricky matches against him,” Nadal said. “I know I have to play very well if I want to have chances and that’s what I’m going to try [to do].”
