17:27
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 6, 1: 1
But Cerúndolo also started the second set strongly. With the second serve he brings an ace through the middle and makes it 40:0. The next serve also hits the spot, so Nadal’s return lands in the net.
17:25
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 6, 0: 1
Nadal is now fully there! He serves much more determinedly now and serves through without dropping a point.
17:24
sentence conclusion
In an exciting first set, Nadal finally prevailed 6: 4. In the decisive service game, the Spaniard was able to fend off several breakballs and immediately got the important break with more powerful shots. Overall, however, both made the same number of points in set one.
17:22
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 6
The Argentine can fend off the first set ball again. A strong serve leaves Nadal no chance of a return. But Nadal is now playing much more powerfully and gets a second set ball. This time he plays it clean to the end. A backhand cross comes with a lot of speed and is no longer possible for Cerúndolo.
17:20
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 5
But there is still the first set ball for Nadal! The 36-year-old is now putting a lot of pressure on and pushing Cerúndolo’s praise for too long.
17:17
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 5
How does the young Argentine react to this now? When he first serves, he seems unimpressed and quickly makes it 30:0. Nadal doesn’t hit an inside out properly that the ball is too far.
17:16
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 5
Important service game for Nadal! The Spaniard can fend off three breakballs. In the end, Cerúndolo didn’t hit the return properly, so the shot went wide. After his missed chance, the 23-year-old is still shaking his head on the bench.
17:12
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 4
Is that the crucial break in the first set. At the start, Nadal makes a double fault and thus gives the advantage back to Cerúndolo. Nadal is currently struggling with the headwind.
17:10
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 4
There are two break balls for the Argentine, but Nadal doesn’t give up a break that easily. With a few strong serves, he comes back and makes a debut.
17:09
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 4
Nadal loses control of the game. He tries to end the rally quickly with a serve-and-volley, but Cerúndolo gets the volley played back. This is followed by another slight mistake by Nadal, who distorts the forehand. 30:15 for Cerundolo.
17:04
Cerundolo – Nadal: 4: 4
With your own serve, Cerúndolo cannot take much at the moment. With a longer rally, he counters well and in the end Nadal makes the mistake with the backhand. The first set is balanced again.
17:02
Cerundolo – Nadal: 3: 4
What a shot from Cerúndolo! After his forehand longline, Nadal thinks he has the rally under control, but Cerúndolo gets the attacking ball and plays it past Nadal at full speed longline. 15:0 for the Argentine.
16:59
Cerundolo – Nadal: 3: 4
In the end, Nadal defends his serve. A serve through the middle comes quickly and Cerúndolo can’t return it.
16:58
Cerundolo – Nadal: 3: 3
Actually, it’s played well again by Cerúndolo, but Nadal finds the counterattack. The Argentine returns close to the baseline again and is so good at rallies. After a good attacking ball, he comes to the net aggressively, but Nadal gets the passing ball well placed. No chance for Cerúndolo and 40:15 for Nadal.
16:54
Cerundolo – Nadal: 3: 3
Cerúndolo equalizes again. Again it’s a good serve from the Argentine that immediately builds up the pressure. Nadal can no longer free himself and only plays the forehand into the net a short time later.
16:51
Cerundolo – Nadal: 2: 3
Super played by Cerúndolo! A strong serve sends Nadal to the outside and the forehand stop afterwards can no longer be reached. 40:30 for Cerundolo.
16:49
Cerundolo – Nadal: 2: 3
Cerúndolo is doing well so far but misses some good chances. Nadal just gets his serve back, but the Argentine then puts the stop in the net. Everything was free for Cerúndolo.
16:47
Cerundolo – Nadal: 2: 3
Cerúndolo actually has the right answer right away. He prepares the rally nicely and completes it with an overhead shot. The ball is still out, but the challenge shows that the ball was still on the line.
16:45
Cerundolo – Nadal: 1: 3
However, will the Argentine get the rebreak straight away? At 30: 0 for Cerúndolo, Nadal makes the mistake and plays the forehand too long. There are three break points for Cerúndolo!
16:43
Cerundolo – Nadal: 1: 3
There is the early break for Nadal! Cerúndolo is looking for a fast forehand longline, but this is clearly too deep to get over the net. Too many slight mistakes lead to the break for the Spaniard.
16:41
Cerundolo 1-2 Nadal
Both show that they are actually at home on the clay court. Again there is a longer rally. However, Cerúndolo’s backhand slice is then too far to the right and ends up out of bounds. 30:15 for Nadal.
16:38
Cerundolo 1-2 Nadal
However, Cerúndolo does not get a break chance. The 23-year-old tries to attack Nadal with a backhand longline but his punch lands in the net. However, there was more to it.
16:35
Cerundolo – Nadal: 1-1
The Argentine can tease Nadal well early on here. His return comes pretty long to the baseline again. This is followed by a stop behind the net, which the Spaniard no longer tries to achieve. 30:15 for Cerundolo.
16:32
Cerundolo – Nadal: 1-1
However, Cerúndolo doesn’t let anything burn on his first service game. With an ace through the middle, he makes it 40:0. The next serve also comes through the middle and Nadal’s return lands behind the baseline.
4:30 p.m
Cerundolo – Nadal: 0: 1
After a not entirely error-free start, the opening game goes to Nadal. With a serve and volley, he puts pressure on Cerúndolo, who didn’t get the ball over the net.
16:27
Cerundolo – Nadal: 0-0
It starts on Center Court and the first point goes to Nadal. Both players feel each other out in a long rally before Cerúndolo misses the backhand cross.
16:22
Coin toss goes to Nadal
Nadal wins the coin toss and decides to serve. So he can serve on Center Court for the first time since 2019. For Cerúndolo it is the first Wimbledon game ever.
16:19
players on the lawn
Cerúndolo and Nadal enter the court and start warming up. Nadal in particular is of course greeted with great applause. So we can start right away. How is Nadal coming back from injury today?
16:01
Świątek in round two
Iga Świątek also wins the second set against Jana Fett. Thus, the Center Court is free for the first round game between Francisco Cerúndolo and Rafael Nadal.
16:00
Semifinals in Miami
The start of the grass season was also without great success for Cerúndolo. At the ATP 500 tournament in London he made it to the second round, but in Eastbourne it was already over in the first round against Tommy Paul. The 23-year-old got his best result this year on hard court. In Miami he made it to the semi-finals where he lost to Casper Ruud.
15:56
Great success at Grand Slam is still missing
Francisco Cerúndolo was unable to achieve good results in either Melbourne or Paris this year. The Argentine bowed out in his first match at both tournaments. Of course, with Nadal, the number 41 in the world did not draw the easiest first-round ticket at Wimbledon.
15:46
Successful year 2022
But Nadal is also playing a strong year 2022 outside of the Grand Slam tournaments. His record this year is a total of 30 wins and only three losses. Recently, however, the Spaniard was plagued by his old foot injury and missed the start of the grass season as a result. Before the start of the tournament, however, he gave positive news about his injury and is therefore at the start today.
15:43
Opportunity for Grand Slam
After winning the Australian Open and the French Open, Nadal’s next chance at a Grand Slam title starts today. If the Spaniard also wins the title in Wimbledon, he still has the chance to win all four major tournaments in one year for the first time.
15:27
Center Court soon free?
The first set between Świątek and Fett clearly went to number one from Poland. If Świątek also wins set two, the place will be free for Cerúndolo and Nadal. However, she is still a break behind.
15:23
Warm welcome!
Hello and welcome to Wimbledon 2022! Francisco Cerúndolo meets Rafael Nadal in the first round today. The match takes place on Center Court and starts right after the match between Iga Świątek and Jana Fett. Have fun reading along.