Nadal sends chilling warning to rivals

Rafa sends out chilling warning to Federer, Djokovic after blowing off first-round opponent in 77 minutes yesterday

Nadal sends chilling warning to rivals

Rafael Nadal returns to Christophe Rochus on Day 2 of the Australian Open in Melbourne yesterday. Nadal won 6-0, 6-2, 6-2. pics/AFP, ap

Whether he intended it or not Rafael Nadal's crushing defeat of Belgian Christophe Rochus in the opening round of the Australian Open will have sent a message to his nearest rivals Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Nadal produced a ruthless display of baseline aggression mixed with the odd foray into the net as he dispatched Rochus 6-0, 6-2, 6-2 in the final match on Day Two at the Melbourne Park yesterday.

The first set took just 19 minutes as Rochus was beaten into submission, and although he fought back to hold serve twice in each of the remaining sets, the Belgian simply had no answers to the World No 1's impressive array of ground strokes, passing shots and the odd volley.

Asked if he had gone out to make a statement to his rivals following their opening victories, Nadal replied, "I'm not thinking about that, I'm just trying to make sure I play well myself.

"Roger and Novak are in the other half of the draw so I can only meet them in the semi-finals and final.
"I just have to worry about this half of the draw and my next match."

Good start
Nadal was only on court for 77 minutes and was unconcerned the match had finished so quickly.

"The good thing is the win. If it is (a short match), even better. So I'm happy for the good start and happy about my performance.

"I thought I played well, especially the serve and the forehand. I thought I played with good concentration the whole time and was able to move the ball around the court and I feel good."

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