MONACO (AP) – Naisalba ni defending champion Rafael Nadal ang matikas na ratsada ni Kyle Edmund ng Britain para maitakas ang 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 panalo sa second round ng Monte Carlo Masters nitong Miyerkules (Huwebes sa Manila).
Makakasama niya sa third round si top-ranked Andy Murray, nagwagi kontra Gilles Muller ng Luxembourg 7-5, 7-5.
Hindi pa nagwawagi si Murray, French Open finalist sa nakalipas na taon, sa torneo, habang asam ni Nadal ang Ika-10 titulo sa Monte Carlo.
“He hit so strong, a lot of big forehands from everywhere. So well done to him,” sambit ni Nadal. “When you play against a player that wants to hits every ball, sometimes you are in his hands. He has all the possibilities to become a top player.”
Sunod na makakaharap ni Nadal si 14th-seeded Alexander Zverev, ang 19-anyos German na lumaban sa kanya sa dikitang five set sa third round ng nakalipas na Australian Open.
“He’s a complete player. I need to play very well,” aniya, patungkol sa kakayahan ng German rival.
Masusubok naman si Murray kay 15th-seeded Albert Ramos-Vinolas ng Spain.
Umusad din ang dating kampeon na si Stan Wawrinka, nagwagi kay Czech Jiri Vesely, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, gayundin si ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych, laban sa 39-anyos na si German Tommy Haas 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
