Not since 2004 has two-time Indian Wells champion Rafael Nadal failed to progress to the semifinals in Southern California. If the streak was to be broken, today might have been the moment, with Nadal having taken a well-publicized break without a competitive match since the Australian Open. We have seen top players with first-round byes vulnerable to upsets by more match-hardened players, but any lingering possibilities in that direction were snuffed out in the first few minutes of Nadal’s 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Leonardo Mayer.
While the gulf in power and class between the opponents makes it difficult to draw any real conclusions about Nadal’s form going forward, there was no evidence of rust in the Spaniard’s play. Two double faults in his first two service games and a failure to attack as comprehensively as he might have on his opponent’s second serve are the worst criticisms that can be leveled at the world No. 2. Breaking in Mayer’s first service game and racing to a 5-0 lead, Nadal put forth an efficient performance, coming forward when it was necessary to finish off the point but otherwise content to stay behind the baseline and out-rally the Argentine, whose long, unhurried stroke preparation and single-handed backhand worked to his disadvantage throughout. Mayer spent most of the first set trading spin with Nadal, a tactic that probably accounts for its 27-minute duration.
To Mayer’s credit, however, he did manage to make himself the more compelling player in the second set, if only by virtue of unpredictably alternating quite beautiful shots with appalling ones. His effort to recover from the first-set beating to hold serve in the first game was praiseworthy, and although he never troubled his opponent in any serious way, when Mayer flattened out the ball, he managed to hit through Nadal at times. Unfortunately, he never managed to do that with any consistency. Repeatedly having put himself in a good position, Mayer often made a hash of the volley or smash required to finish Nadal off. Such an error, coupled with a double-fault, gave up the crucial break early in the second set, and he was broken again for the match, as his footwork let him down, sealing a straightforward victory for Nadal in 75 minutes.
All we can really conclude at this point is that Rafa has returned, and doesn’t look rusty as he begins the period he himself identifies as most crucial in his year. His fans should be happy and his opponents apprehensive on both counts.
—Hannah Wilks