Rafael Nadal warns Australian Open field of serious title challenge

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a shot against Leonardo Mayer of Argentina. (REUTERS)

MELBOURNE: Rafael Nadal may have ended last year on the treatment table and a doubt for the year’s first Grand Slam, but he has already dealt an ace to any suggestions he cannot challenge for the title.
The world No. 1 beat Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer in straight sets on the Rod Laver Arena and claimed the manner of the victory proved he was getting back to the form he needs to be in to win a second Australian Open title.
”It was an important victory for me, he’s a tough opponent,” Nadal said after the 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win secured in two hours 38 minutes.
“Leonardo is a player with big potential, he hits the ball so strong and you could see in the last couple of games how tough was he.
“I had to hit some great shots in the tie-break, he’s a very dangerous opponent.
“I am happy to be in the third round after being out of competition for a while, a second victory in a row is very important to me.”
He now faces plays Bosnian 28th seed Damir Dzumhur in the next round on Friday, when temperatures are forecast to hit 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), with Nadal urging organizers to shut the roof on the stadium he plays on.
“The only thing that I hope, if it is extreme conditions, I hope the organizers shut the roof. I think is a health issue,” he said.
“Even I like sometimes to play when it’s hot. When it’s too much, it becomes dangerous for the health.”
As if the torrid temperatures were not enough to worry about, Nadal also revealed he was not taking victory against Dzumhur for granted.
“He’s a tricky one. The only way to win is play in a high rhythm than him and try to play aggressive, try to put the highest intensity possible out there. That’s what I going to try.”
Mayer played well and stuck to his guns, hitting 48 winners offset by 33 unforced errors and breaking serve for the only time in the match as Nadal was serving out to win, forcing the third set into a tiebreaker.
“He played a great game, all the returns in, very long, playing so aggressive, hitting all the balls super strong, and having success,” Nadal said of Mayer.
The win took the 31-year-old Spaniard’s Australian Open record to 53-11 as he chases his second Australian title after beating Federer in the 2009 final.