Nadal, Williams start off New Year with victory

Rafael Nadal’s desire to add to his 14 grand slams in 2017 received an early boost as the 30-year-old dismissed Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets at the Brisbane International.

The Spaniard and world number nine has been without a major prize since he won the French Open in 2014.

In what happened to be his first match of the year, Nadal needed only 76 minutes to set off the Ukrainian 6-3 6-3 in Queensland.

In another fixture on Tuesday, world number two, Serena Williams, also won her first match of the year, although admitted she felt rusty after her first game for four months.

Read Also: Nadal marks return from injury with win against Berdych

The 35-year-old beat France’s Pauline Parmentier 6-3 6-4 before telling reporters: “You always feel rusty for your first match. But mentally I knew how to get it back and get in there.”

Serena hadn’t played since defeat in the semi-final of last year’s US Open, but have started off the New Season with an effort so promising.

17-time grand slam winner, Roger Federer, also showed no signs of rust in his first competitive match for six months when he outclassed Dan Evans 6-3 6-4 at the Hopman Cup on Monday.

Ultimately, the world’s best players are building up to the first Grand Slam of the year with the Australian Open starting on January 16.

 

 

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