World number one Rafael Nadal recovered from a slow start to beat Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets and progress to the third round of Wimbledon.
It was far from vintage Nadal in the opening set but the Spaniard still managed to take the lead, before he raised his level and clinched a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win.
Nadal, who is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon this year, will face the Australian Alex de Minaur next as he bids to win an 18th Grand Slam title.
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Nadal, the No.2 seed at the All England Club, breezed through his first-round match against Dudi Sela but took a while to find his range today.
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He was on the back foot initially and Kukushkin, ranked number 77, created three break opportunities in the very first service match but was unable to take advantage.
A devastating back-hand winner off the racket of Nadal allowed him to clinch an early break, but Kukushkin hit back soon after with a break of his own.
Kukushkin was growing in confidence and powered two winners past Nadal to level at 3-3, before wasting a golden chance to break once again.
After a sluggish start, Nadal was beginning to show signs of his quality and, with the help of two unforced errors from Kukushkin, produced a vital break, going on to take the opener 6-4.
Moving a set ahead allowed Nadal to settle down and he stamped his authority on match by breaking the Kukushkin serve to take a 3-1 lead in the second.
By this point, Kukushkin appeared to realise that his chance to cause a stunning upset in SW19 had already gone and he began to make regular unforced errors.
The 30-year-old, who has only ever reached the third round at Wimbledon once before, was unable to keep up with the ever-improving Nadal as his own levels dropped.
Kukushkin has showed solid form this year, however, reaching his first grass-court semi-final in Eastbourne last month, and earned five break points early into the third.
He could not take advantage, though, giving 32-year-old Nadal, who reached the last-16 stage last year, a welcome reprieve in his 13th appearance at Wimbledon.
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The Spaniard was not so fortunate in his next service game, however, and Kukushkin found a deserved break to lead 3-1 in the third.
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But Kukushkins serve is not the most potent and Nadal broke back to go 5-4 up, before serving out for the match.
The 11-time French Open champion is bidding to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year for the third time – the only other player to achieve that is Bjorg Borg.
It was a very tough match, Nadal said as he walked off court. Mikhail plays well on grass. It was a good test and Im happy to be through.
MORE: Wimbledon final switched to BBC Two to make way for World Cup
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World number one Rafael Nadal recovered from a slow start to beat Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets and progress to the third round of Wimbledon.
It was far from vintage Nadal in the opening set but the Spaniard still managed to take the lead, before he raised his level and clinched a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win.
Nadal, who is yet to drop a set at Wimbledon this year, will face the Australian Alex de Minaur next as he bids to win an 18th Grand Slam title.
More: Tennis
Nadal, the No.2 seed at the All England Club, breezed through his first-round match against Dudi Sela but took a while to find his range today.
Advertisement Advertisement
He was on the back foot initially and Kukushkin, ranked number 77, created three break opportunities in the very first service match but was unable to take advantage.
A devastating back-hand winner off the racket of Nadal allowed him to clinch an early break, but Kukushkin hit back soon after with a break of his own.
Kukushkin was growing in confidence and powered two winners past Nadal to level at 3-3, before wasting a golden chance to break once again.
After a sluggish start, Nadal was beginning to show signs of his quality and, with the help of two unforced errors from Kukushkin, produced a vital break, going on to take the opener 6-4.
Moving a set ahead allowed Nadal to settle down and he stamped his authority on match by breaking the Kukushkin serve to take a 3-1 lead in the second.
By this point, Kukushkin appeared to realise that his chance to cause a stunning upset in SW19 had already gone and he began to make regular unforced errors.
The 30-year-old, who has only ever reached the third round at Wimbledon once before, was unable to keep up with the ever-improving Nadal as his own levels dropped.
Kukushkin has showed solid form this year, however, reaching his first grass-court semi-final in Eastbourne last month, and earned five break points early into the third.
He could not take advantage, though, giving 32-year-old Nadal, who reached the last-16 stage last year, a welcome reprieve in his 13th appearance at Wimbledon.
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The Spaniard was not so fortunate in his next service game, however, and Kukushkin found a deserved break to lead 3-1 in the third.
More: Tennis
But Kukushkins serve is not the most potent and Nadal broke back to go 5-4 up, before serving out for the match.
The 11-time French Open champion is bidding to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the same year for the third time – the only other player to achieve that is Bjorg Borg.
It was a very tough match, Nadal said as he walked off court. Mikhail plays well on grass. It was a good test and Im happy to be through.
MORE: Wimbledon final switched to BBC Two to make way for World Cup
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