<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/french-open-organisers-fingers-crossed-over-rafas-participation-23346048" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Rafael Nadal</a> breezed to a straight sets victory over 16-year-old Darwin Blanch to reach the Madrid Open second round on Thursday as he began his farewell appearance in the Spanish capital.&nbsp;
The 37-year-old said this week he was not fully fit, but demolished his American opponent 6-1, 6-0 in one hour and three minutes as he continues his comeback from injury.&nbsp;
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Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, is expecting 2024 to be his final season in tennis and this his last appearance at the <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/novak-djokovic-withdraws-from-madrid-open-23345356" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Madrid Open</a>. He made his first competitive appearance since January at the Barcelona Open last week, where he was defeated in the second round by Alex de Minaur.&nbsp;
The Australian will be Nadal&rsquo;s second round opponent in Madrid too as the Spaniard tries to find form and fitness ahead of Rome and then the French Open, where he is the record 14-time winner. &ldquo;For me it has always been a pleasure to play in front of you all,&rdquo; said Nadal.&nbsp;
Despite the ease of his victory, Nadal said it did not mean anything in terms of his prospects of competing at his beloved Roland Garros. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not a results based guy, I&rsquo;m a realist about what happens, I was playing against a player with good potential but who makes huge amounts of errors,&rdquo; Nadal told reporters.
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The 37-year-old said this week he was not fully fit, but demolished his American opponent 6-1, 6-0 in one hour and three minutes as he continues his comeback

Nadal begins Spanish farewell with Rd One win

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The 37-year-old said this week he was not fully fit, but demolished his American opponent 6-1, 6-0 in one hour and three minutes as he continues his comeback from injury

Nadal begins Spanish farewell with Rd One win

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Nadal begins Spanish farewell with Rd One win

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