Rafael Nadal Cruises into Second Round at Mutua Madrid Open
Defending Champion Dominates Cachín in Straight Sets
Madrid, Spain - April 29, 2024
Five-time Mutua Madrid Open champion Rafael Nadal made a strong start to his title defense on Thursday, crushing Pedro Cachín 6-1, 6-0 in the first round of the ATP Masters 1000 event.
Nadal, who has been hampered by injuries this year, showed no signs of rust as he dominated the match from start to finish. The 22-time Grand Slam champion broke Cachín's serve five times and lost only seven points on his own serve in the one-hour and 24-minute encounter.
The victory marks Nadal's 57th win at the Madrid Open, where he holds a remarkable 56-14 record. The Spaniard will face Grigor Dimitrov in the second round, a player he has defeated 14 times in their previous meetings.
Nadal's performance is a promising sign for the remainder of the clay-court season. The 36-year-old is aiming to extend his record-breaking 14 French Open titles at Roland Garros, which begins on May 28.
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