French Open: Rafael Nadal sweats and shines

Rafael Nadal celebrates a point against Alexei Popyrin. Pic/Getty Images

Rafael Nadal fought back from 2-5 down in the third set to ensure he started his bid for a 14th French Open title with a comfortable victory over Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday.

Nadal, 34, seeded third, raced through the first two sets before eventually clinching a 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory over his Australian opponent. The Spaniard could usurp Roger Federer at the top of the all-time men's list with a 21st Grand Slam singles title in Paris.

Sheer domination

He started in ominous fashion for his rivals and has still not lost a set at Roland Garros since beating Dominic Thiem in four sets in the 2019 final. Nadal will take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet, against whom he has won 16 times in as many matches, in the second round.

Alexei Popyrin. Pic/AFP

Rublev knocked out

Seventh seed Andrey Rublev was knocked out in the first round on Tuesday, as the in-form Russian lost a five-set thriller to Jan-Lennard Struff. Rublev, who beat Rafael Nadal en route to the Monte Carlo Masters final earlier this season, fought back from two sets down before succumbing 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 3-6, 6-4
in three hours and 46 minutes.

Rublev, who had reached the quarter-finals in each of his previous three Grand Slam tournaments, was the third-highest seeded player in his half of the draw, behind Novak Djokovic and Nadal.

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