Rio Open 2014: Rafael Nadal vs Albert Montanes - As it happened

Round 2: Rafael Nadal def. Albert Montanes 6-1, 6-2

Rafael Nadal

If you were a Spanish tennis player, Rio Open would probably not where you’d want to be right now. Not when the numero uno player in the world is in his punishing best, and having no mercy on his opponents, fellow countrymen or not.

Nadal started the match aggressively and was on his mark right from the start. He broke Montanes in the opening game to lead 1-0. Montanes responded with a break point of his own in the very next game, but Nadal stuck to his fail-safe routine of attacking the single handed backhand of Montanes and consolidated the break. One particular backhand to wrong foot Montanes, was a treat to watch.

Montanes wasn’t playing badly. He was making a lot of balls and hitting the ball clean and hard. He just wasn’t playing good enough to trouble Nadal. Nadal was relentless as he put the pressure on Montanes serve again. Montanes got a time violation and was able to save two break points, but Nadal took the third opportunity, and was up 3-0 in a matter of minutes.

The juggernaut continued, as Nadal was in a hurry to wrap things up. He gave little opportunity for Montanes to apply pressure, and when he did, he got it right back in the form of top spinning forehands. He faced yet another break point in the fifth game and saved it with a good sliced drop shot. He finally got himself on the scoreboard after Nadal fired one long.

That only delayed the inevitable though. Nadal held serve comfortably and broke Montanes for the third time to take the first set 6-1.

Nadal began proceedings in the second set and it was more a matter of when, than what. He was wrong-footing Montanes at will, making almost no mistakes. Montanes double faulted and made errors of his own and Nadal broke again, to lead 2-0.

In the third game came the most exciting point of the match. After the net cord stopped a sure winner from Nadal, Montanes stretched him on both ends, but Nadal made an exquisite backhanded lob which landed right before the baseline. Montanes got himself another break point opportunity but Nadal quelled it again with the classic one-two play to take a 3-0 lead in the second.

At this stage, Montanes adopted an all or nothing approach and held serve with a quick-fire game. He then showed more resistance in the next game, and some inspired shot making got him back on serve. He carried the momentum in his own service game, but Nadal outran his drop shots to get the break back.

Sweat dripping off his nose, Nadal pressed Montanes hard in every point. With a 5-2 lead, he went for the kill. Montanes had no answer to his wide, open stance forehands and he finished the match with a backhand winner.

Nadal improved to 101-15 lifetime against fellow Spaniards with this absolutely commanding display. The way he is playing, you must be a brave man to bet against him winning this tournament.