Rafael Nadal opened his 2014 Wimbledon challenge with a first-round match against Slovakian Martin Klizan on Tuesday.
Klizan, who is currently ranked at 57 in the world, claimed the first set 6-4.
However, Nadal responded to claim sets two, three and four with a score of 6-3 to book his spot in the second round.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's game-by-game coverage of the action below.
Hello all! Sports Mole's Wimbledon coverage continues this afternoon as world number 57 Martin Klizan faces Rafael Nadal. Klizan is competing in just his second ever Grand Slam in London this year, but he has never progressed past the second round. Nadal, however, is chasing his third Wimbledon title having won the competition in both 2008 and 2010.
Klizan, who was ranked as high as world number 26 in March, has dropped to 57 in the world in recent months, but will provide stern opposition. The Slovakian won the Munich Open earlier this year, overcoming Mikhail Youzhny and Tommy Haas en route to the final, where he eventually beat top seed Fabio Fognini to claim his second career title.
Nadal, meanwhile, enters Wimbledon off the back of winning a record-breaking ninth French Open title last month. It has been a disappointing couple of years at Wimbledon for the Spaniard, however, who exited in the second round to Lukas Rosol in 2012, before losing to world number 135 Steve Darvis in the first round last year.
Nadal's Wimbledon record from 2006 to 2011, however, was extremely strong. The Spaniard lost back-to-back finals to Roger Federer in 2006 and 2007, before beating the Swiss in the final in 2008. Injury kept him out in 2009, but he returned in 2010 to win the title against Tomas Berdych. In 2011, Nadal was beaten by Novak Djokivic.
The match is due to get underway in the next few minutes, but there are no sign of the players at the moment. Can Klizan seriously cause an upset this afternoon? Or will it be a comfortable first-round match for the Spaniard?
The likes of Wawrinka, Nishikori and Tsonga have already booked their spot in the next round of Wimbledon today. Meanwhile, Federer is looking pretty strong against Lorenzi - leading the Italian by two sets.
#Nadal looked in fine form on the #Wimbledon practice courts this morning. pic.twitter.com/EFJ4bnlfSR
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 23, 2014
Here we go then. Nadal will serve first...
Nadal starves off three break points to hold with a brilliant forehand down the line. Positive start from Klizan, who has shown his willingness to match the Spaniard from the baseline. Nadal leads.
Both players exchange points to sit level at 30-30, but a double fault from Klizan leaves Nadal with break point. Klizan challenges, but it had moved just out. Nadal fails to take the opportunity, however, and fires long. Deuce two arrives shortly after, before Nadal hits the net to hand Klizan the chance to hold, which he takes when Nadal nets once more.
Klizan starts the game with a stunning forehand to move 0-15 ahead, but Nadal answers straight back with a backhand that his opponent fails to return. Klizan then fires long, but a double fault from Nadal leaves the score at 30-30. Klizan sets up break point when Nadal's deep forehand moves beyond the baseline, but Nadal then aces it for deuce. Eventually the Spaniard holds his second service game of the match when Klizan fires long.
Again it is strong serving from Klizan, who breezes into a 30-0 lead when Nadal twice nets in quick succession. A quick flick of the wrist allows Nadal to move onto the board, but a fine backhand from Klizan leaves the score at 40-15. An ace secures the hold.
Klizan continues to cause problems with his shot variation from the baseline, but a long forehand from the world number 57 at 30-30 hands Nadal game point and the Spaniard takes it with a forehand down the line.
Untidy start from Nadal as the Spaniard gives up the first two points with two errors, but Klizan then clips wide to allow the Spaniard onto the board at 30-15. Nadal hits another one long to hand Klizan 40-15 and he secures the hold when Nadal nets.
A brilliant volley from Nadal levels the score at 15-15 after another bright start from Klizan, before the French Open champion moves 30-15 ahead with a powerful forehand. Nadal moves 40-15 ahead following a long forehand from Klizan, but the Slovakian responds with a brilliant forehand of his own. Nadal does hold, however, following a powerful serve.
Nadal moves 0-15 ahead when Klizan fires a relatively simple forehand past the baseline, but 15-15 occurs when Nadal finds the net. An ace moves Klizan 30-15 ahead, but the Slovakian then fires long to leave the score at 30-30. Klizan eventually secures the hold following a couple of errors from Nadal.
BREAK! Nadal leaves Klizan on the ground in both of the first two points, with the Spaniard moving 30-0 ahead. However, another brilliant backhand from Klizan moves him onto the board, before Nadal fires long for 30-30. Klizan sets up break point after reaching a short volley from the Spaniard, who then double faults for a Klizan break.
SET! Perfect start from Nadal as the Spaniard whips a forehand past Klizan to move 15-0 ahead, before Klizan nets for 0-30. Nadal follows suit in the next point for 15-30, before firing wide to leave the score at 30-30. Klizan closes out the first set as he twice breaks down Nadal's defence. Wow!
Poor start from Nadal as the Spaniard fires long of the baseline to leave Klizan 0-15 ahead, but it quickly becomes 15-15 following a powerful forehand. The pair then exchange points for 30-30, before Klizan nets to set up game point, which Nadal takes with a powerful forehand that leaves Klizan on the deck.
Nadal drops the 1st set to Martin Klizan. Is the world No.1 facing a 4th consecutive defeat on grass? #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/JsBTjnkSsT
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 24, 2014
Klizan again tumbles in the opening point of the game as Nadal slices a forehand past the Slovakian, but a volley from Klizan at the net leaves the score at 15-15. Two aces move Klizan 30-15 and then 40-15 ahead, before he secures the hold with a brilliant forehand.
Another sensational forehand moves Klizan 0-15 ahead, before a brilliant passing shot moves Klizan 0-30 ahead. Nadal moves onto the board with a brilliant forehand of his own, but 15-40 occurs when Nadal slices into the air. Nadal survives the first break point and then quickly the second when Klizan fires into the air. The Spaniard then nets to hand Klizan another chance to break, but an ace from Nadal leaves the score at deuce two. Eventually Nadal holds with a brilliant forehand.
Fist pump from Nadal as the Spaniard wins an epic rally in the second point of the game to move level at 15-15. A powerful serve from Klizan moves him 30-15 ahead, before 40-15 occurs with a spinning forehand. The hold is secured when Nadal fires long.
Klizan continues to cause Nadal problems as another powerful forehand moves the Slovakian onto the board at 30-15. Klizan then fires long, however, to leave Nadal 40-15 ahead, before the hold is secured with a powerful serve.
BREAK! Nadal sets up two break points after winning both exchanges from the baseline, but Klizan saves the first with another ace, before saving the second when Nadal finds the net on the run. A third break point arrives, but once more Nadal nets for deuce two. The Spaniard has advantage as he leaves Klizan on the deck once more and finally has the break when Klizan fires long.
Klizan moves 0-30 ahead following a couple of errors from Nadal, but the Spaniard moves onto the board when Klizan nets from the baseline. Klizan then fires long for 30-30, before Nadal moves 40-30 ahead with a brilliant backhand. The hold is secured when Klizan hits the net once more.
Nadal has just started to find his feet in the last couple of games and continues the same tempo by quickly moving 15-30 ahead following a couple of errors from his opponent. Klizan produces a brilliant serve to move level at 30-30, however, before firing a forehand down the line. Klizan secures the hold when Nadal fires wide.
SET! Shaky start from Nadal as the Spaniard twice fails to find the court in the first two points, leaving Klizan 0-30 ahead. The Spaniard gets on the board when Klizan drops a forehand just wide, but Klizan then sets up two break points with a stunning backhand. Nadal saves the first with a volley at the net, but whipping a forehand past Klizan for deuce. Eventually Nadal holds and indeed wins the second set when Klizan nets.
Toilet break for Nadal as we wait for the start of the third set...
BREAK!Confident start to the third set from Klizan as the Slovakian breezes into a 30-0 lead, Nadal responds, but it quickly becomes 40-15 when Nadal hits the net. Klizan cannot take advantage, however, with Nadal responding to leave the score at deuce. Klizan then hits the net with a slice, but Nadal follows suit for deuce two. The best rally of the match follows, with Nadal whipping a wonderful forehand past his opponent to move ahead. Nadal secures the break when Klizan fires wide.
Brilliant from Nadal once more as the Spaniard kisses the baseline with a forehand to move 15-0 ahead, but he then fires long to leave the score at 15-15. Klizan then nets twice in quick succession to leave Nadal 40-15 ahead, before the Spaniard holds with a a fine volley.
BREAK! Klizan is really struggling now as the Slovakian loses his first three points on serve, with Nadal simply making every ball. Klizan does produce a fine forehand to move onto 15-40, before 30-40 arrives when Nadal fires long. The Spaniard manages to break, however, at the third time of asking when Klizan nets.
BREAK! Positive start from Klizan as he moves 0-15 ahead after matching Nadal from the baseline, before 0-30 arrives when Nadal fires long. Nadal moves onto the board in the next point, but then fires long for 15-40. Klizan secures the break when Nadal nets.
Klizan continues to impress as he recovers from 0-15 to move level with a brilliant forehand. Klizan then takes two straight points to move 40-15 ahead, before eventually holding when Nadal finds the net.
Another brilliant exchange between the two finally brings 15-0 when Klizan misses a forehand, before the Slovakian fires wide once more to leave Nadal 30-0 ahead. Eventually the Spaniard holds when Klizan slices into the air.
Again it is a poor start for Nadal to Klizan's service game as the Slovakian races into a 30-0 lead when Nadal nets twice in quick succession. The pair then exchange points, but Klizan holds when Nadal fires wide.
Not the best start from Nadal as he clips a forehand long to hand Klizan 0-15. Klizan then follows suit, however, for 15-15. The pair then exchange points for 30-30, before Nadal produces a wonderful volley at the net to move 40-30 ahead - sensational tennis. Eventually Nadal secures the hold when Klizan fires long.
SET! Nadal moves 0-15 ahead when Klizan finds the net from a deep position, but Nadal fires long in the next point for 15-15. Another slice from Klizan allows Nadal to take the lead, before the Slovakian hands Nadal two set points by hitting the net. Nadal indeed claims the third set when Klizan fires long.
Confident start to the fourth set for Nadal as he races into a 40-0 lead courtesy of a couple of powerful serves. Nadal secures the hold when Klizan finds the net from a wide position.
Another Klizan ace moves the Slovakian 15-0 ahead, but the world number 57 then hits the net to leave the score at 15-15. The pair then exchange points for 30-30, with Klizan starting to show signs of tiredness. Nadal hits one long for 30-40, however, before Klizan holds when the world number one hits the net.
The longest rally of the match - 18 strokes - occurs in the first point of the third game, with Klizan moving 0-15 ahead. However, Nadal immediately responds for 15-15. Klizan then fires long to leave Nadal 30-15 ahead, before the Spaniard whips a forehand past his Slovakian opponent for 40-15. Another wide forehand allows Nadal to hold.
BREAK! Confident start to the game for Klizan as he forces Nadal to fire wide from the baseline, but Klizan then nets for 15-15. Klizan fires wide in the next point to hand Nadal 15-30, before the Spaniard produces a wonderful block to move 15-40 ahead. Nadal was on the ground, but managed to rise to his feet and play a winner - incredible tennis. Nadal then fires long for 30-40, but secures the break when Klizan nets.
Another brilliant rally occurs in the opening point of the game, but Nadal moves 15-0 ahead when Klizan fires long. Nadal follows suit in the next point for 15-15, but regains the lead after running around his forehand once more. Another volley at the net allows Nadal to move 40-15 ahead, but Nadal holds with another forehand.
Klizan opens with an ace to move 15-0 ahead, before Nadal fires long for 30-0. That becomes 40-0 when Nadal clips a forehand wide and Klizan holds when Nadal nets. Strong play from Klizan.
BREAK! Untidy start from Nadal as the world number one hits the net for 0-15, but the Spaniard responds with a powerful volley from the middle of the court. The pair then exchange points for 30-30, with Nadal missing the chance to push home his advantage. The Spaniard regains the advantage, however, with a brilliant forehand, but Klizan shows wonderful hands at the net to level it at deuce. Nadal then fires long to hand Klizan advantage and the Slovakian breaks when Nadal hits the net.
BREAK! First blood to Nadal as Klizan fires long for 0-15, but the Spaniard then nets for 15-15. Nadal regains the lead with a brilliant forehand that just kisses the baseline, before Klizan fires long for 15-40. The break occurs when Klizan chips one just wide of the line. Nadal will serve for the match.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! Not the best start from Nadal as he double-faults to hand Klizan 0-15. However, the Slovakian then fires long for 15-15. Klizan has the chance to volley for 15-30, but misses as Nadal moves 30-15 ahead. Nadal then finds the net for 30-30, but regains the lead with a brilliant forehand, but Klizan levels it at deuce with a forehand of his own. Klizan then moves onto advantage with a brilliant passing shot, but finds the net in the next point for deuce two. Eventually Nadal secures the set and indeed match with his second set point.
So there we have it. Nadal books his spot in the second round with a 4-6 6-3 6-3 6-3 victory over Klizan. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and be sure to stick around for all the reaction. Until next time!
