ROLAND GARROS
Rafa Nadal thumps Sam Groth in first round at Roland Garros
Nine time French Open Champion Nadal beat Australian Groth by a thumping 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 to move easily into the second round in Paris.
Rafa Nadal was in sterling form as he pulverised Australian Sam Groth 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 in just 80 minutes to move into the second round at Roland Garros. The match got underway with just 12 degrees on the thermometer on the Suzanne Lenglen court, just as Andy Murray and Radek Stepanak were finishing off their five set thriller.
Nadal debuts equalling his best ever French Open victory
Spaniard Nadal equalled his best ever victory here at Roland Garros, with just three games conceded, but he set a new record in terms of unforced errors, giving away just three points without being made to by Groth.
Nadal now faces Argentinean Facundo Bagnis (world number 99), who beat big Frenchman Kenny de Schepper.
Groth had said before the match against Nadal that he would try to frustrate the Spaniard and prevent him getting into a rhythm. However it was him who never found one, committing 28 unforced errors. Meanwhile Nadal wiped the court with Groth in terms of winners: the Australian basically couldn't play Rafa's top-spin drives. While Groth managed 10 aces (the fastest at 217 km/h compared with Nadal's 194 km/h) it was to no avail as the Spanish world number 5 tore into the second round.