Wimbledon 2018, Men's Singles, Round 2: Rafael Nadal vs Mikhail Kukushkin, Live Match Updates

And that wraps up our live coverage of this match. Keep following Sportskeeda for all the latest updates from Wimbledon 2018.

Nadal wasn't at his best at all. But he was able to lift his game at the crunch moments and complete the win in straight sets.

Final score: Nadal def Kukushkin 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to enter the third round.

And Rafa completes the win!!!!!!!

Nadal relentlessly kept moving Kukushkin from side to side. And he gets the BREAK!!!!!

Rafa is up 5-4 and will serve for the match!!

What a backhand down the line from the Kazakh!

Unforced errors from Kukushkin gift Nadal a couple of break points.

Nadal responds with a hold to 15.

It is 4-4

And there is no break of serve after that early exchange.

Kukushkin held his serve and now leads 4-3

Rafa wasn't at his best during his service game but he still played at a decent level to hold his serve.

3-3

And it's a tame surrender from Kukushkin after that brilliant game.

Rafa BREAKS and will now serve for 3-3

Kukushkin is up 3-1 now

An incredible second serve ace from Rafa SAVES it. But the Kazakh gets yet another break point, which he CONVERTS!!!!

And Nadal is in trouble here!

Faces two break points here

Kukushkin holds his serve and leads 2-1 in this set.

And Rafa eventually HOLDS!!!!

It is 1-1

It is Deuce No. 6

Rafa just can't close it out!

Brilliant serve from Rafa!

Deuce again !

And Kukushkin won't give up either.

With two blistering forehands, he carves out a break point.

After 3 deuces, Nadal finds a second serve ace.

Nadal is struggling on his serve after Kukushkin held his serve to begin Set 3.

Nadal is now up 6-4, 6-3

Kukushkin's forehand breaks down and the second set goes to Nadal!!!!

Kukushkin sent a forehand long!

It's all about fine margins!

30-30

Some fantastic returns from the Kazakh make it 30-15 on the Nadal serve.

After Nadal held his serve to love, Kukushkin too did the same.

The former champion will now serve for the set at 5-3.

The Kazakh held his serve and now trails Rafa 2-4

It is deuce on the Kukushkin serve. Can Nadal earn a second break of serve?

And Rafa consolidated that break effortlessly.

He is up 4-1.

Surely in control of this set?

Kukushkin came up with two good serves and saved those break points, but he could not save a third one.

Nadal BREAKS!

He is up 3-1

Nadal held his next service game and is now putting pressure on the Kukushkin serve.

Has two break points. Can he break?

Both start the second set with service holds.

It is 1-1

Kukushkin hits the net on Nadal's second set point and gifts the first set to Nadal.

Rafa takes the first set 6-4

And Nadal returns the favour.

He makes a backhand unforced error on set point.

And he now throws in a double fault as well, to make Nadal's work easier.

Kukushkin is now targeting the lines and is consistently missing them.

Finally, an easy service game for Nadal.

He holds his service to love and jumps ahead to 5-4

And he holds to draw level yet again.

4-4

With a great forehand, Kukushkin gets to game point.

40-30

Rafa is now attacking the Kukushkin backhand.

Rafa has averted danger and has HELD his serve.

He leads 4-3 now.

Rafa is still struggling with his rhythm. He faces yet another break point.

And Kukushkin HOLDS!!

It is 3-3

The Kazakh is cruising on his serve now.

40-0 up

Kukushkin will now serve to level it up at 3-3

And Nadal gets BROKEN!!!!!

Now Rafa faces a break point!

Kukushkin managed to hold his serve and that has pretty much emboldened him.

He is trailing 1-3 but is up 30-15 on the Rafa serve.

Can he make in-roads into the Kazakh's serve for the second straight time?

And Rafa looks stronger than ever now. Up 30-15 on the Kukushkin serve again.