Ruthless Nadal demolishes Ginepri at French Open

Wednesday, 28 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: World No.1 Rafa Nadal started his French Open title defence in ruthlessfashion, dismantling American Robby Ginepri 6-0 6-3 6-0 to reach the second round on Monday.

The eight-times champion from Spain wasted no time on a damp day in Paris to set up a meeting with rising Austrian Dominic Thiem who dismissed France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu with ease. Nadal used his whipping forehand to shake world number 279 Ginepri who needed a wildcard into the tournament. Unlike last year when Nadal flirted with danger against Germany’s Daniel Brands in the first round, he was a class apart from Ginepri. The sun pierced the clouds midway through the third set as Nadal wasted two match points, ending the match on his third attempt when Ginepri’s backhand sailed long. Nadal will face far sterner tests in the coming days but after some surprise defeats in the build-up to the French Open he was happy to make such a fast start.