When the men’s singles draw was conducted for Australian Open 2018, Melbourne’s Herald Sun newspaper said of Rafael Nadal in its preview: “the tennis gods have looked kindly on the world No.1.” And with his every thumping of an undersized, overwhelmed opponent so far, those words have continued to ring true as the tournament unfolds.
There are two types of opponents against whom Nadal traditionally thrives. Those with one-handed backhands, which he can target with his vicious forehand. And those of short stature, who struggle with his aggressively high-bouncing topspin.
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Each of his opponents has exhibited either one or both of those traits at Melbourne Park this year. On Friday night, it was Damir Dzumhur, the 175cm Bosnian who at times during his 6-1 6-3 6-1 loss to Nadal was literally leaping off the ground to play backhands zinging high above his shoulder.
"Was a good match, of course. When you win 6-1 6-3 6-1 in the third round, is always a great result, no? Without playing well, is impossible to have these kind of results," Nadal said.
"So happy for that. Happy to be through, yeah, fourth round. Already is good news."
Nadal’s one-hour, 50-minute victory followed on from his 6-1 6-1 6-1 thrashing of the hapless Victor Estrella Burgos – just 170cm tall and playing with a one-handed backhand – in round one. Next was Leonardo Mayer, who, despite being taller and more strapping than the others and playing Nadal closer, nevertheless possessed the one-handed stroke on which the Spaniard feasts. He too went down in straight sets.
Next up in the round of 16? That would be the diminutive Diego Schwartzman, standing just 170cm and against whom Nadal has yet to drop a set in three career meetings.
"Being honest, he's a player that if I don't play my best, probably I don't going to win," Nadal said of Schwartzman, in typically cautious style.
"He's a player that have all the shots, big control from the baseline, don't miss much. He's able to change directions easy. He's a player that already played the quarterfinals in the US Open. He's already in the fourth round (here).
"Tough one, and I need to play my best."
But back to Nadal’s Margaret Court Arena meeting with Dzumhur. The Bosnian was met with an assault under lights, winning just four of the first 24 points as Nadal stampeded through the first set in 22 minutes. Nadal produced 13 winners to Dzumhur’s three and enjoyed a perfect success rate in five trips to the net. Dzumhur pointed to his racquet face, appearing to complain that he could neither feel or control the ball on his strings.
He appeared to settle into the contest better in the second set, even managing a service break – his only one of the match – courtesy of a stinging backhand that forced an error from the world No.1.
Yet Nadal broke straight back – Dzumhur double-faulted to gift him a 0-40 lead – and then burned through four of the next five games to take a two-sets-to-love lead.
To his credit, Dzumhur battled, and did well to extend both the length of games and rallies. The first game of the third set extended five deuces, and in the next game he saved four break points in another tussle at deuce. Yet still Nadal managed to forge ahead 2-0; his relentlessness and greater weight of shot wore Dzumhur down.
That cumulative weariness manifested in the sixth game, when three sloppy errors saw Dzumhur surrender serve for a second time and trail 5-1.
Nadal had few problems putting him away for good in the next game.