Spanish hero Rafael Nadal claimed his 11th straight victory on clay with a difficult opening win on Wednesday at the Madrid Masters, advancing 6-4, 6-3 over feisty Ukrainian Oleksandr Dolgopolov.
Third-seed Andy Murray beat Argentine Juan Chela for the fifth time in a row, advancing to the third round 6-3, 6-3.
Murray has improvements to make on clay, now standing 2-2 on the season and next playing Romanian Victor Hanescu, a big-serving threat whom he beat in their only previous match last year in Monte Carlo.
“I was pleased with the win,” said the Scot. “I served well and was able to move him around the court. It will be the same tomorrow.
Victor’s serves will be booming. I have to take control to have any chances.” The pony-tailed qualifier Dolgopolov refused to roll over against Nadal, exchanging baseline rallies with the second-seed who lost the final a year ago to Roger Federer.
“It was difficult to play against him,” said Nadal. “He’s very fast. This was an important victory for me. I’m happy with it.
Sometimes I did not have the match under control.” Nadal is bidding to lift a third consecutive trophy on clay after winning Monte Carlo and Rome in recent weeks.
Nadal took the opening set in his start for the week with an early break and secured the lead in the second as he moved ahead 4-3.
Nadal picked up his 27th win of the season when his opponent’s forehand bounced long off the net cord on match point after just under 90 minutes.
He will next face US player John Isner, who followed up on the clay form that took him to the Belgrade final and staged a comeback to defeat Santiago Giraldo of Colombia 1-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-2.
“Isner is one of the most dangerous players on tour,” said Nadal.
“The pressure is very big on your serve. If you lose it against him you are unlikely to be able to come back in the set. It’s a challenge, and I’ll try my best to play better than today.”
Seventh seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga quit with back pain — mainly a precaution — trailing Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 and hoping to return fit for the French Open.
Eighth-seed Marin Cilic debuted with a defeat of Argentine Edoardo Schwank 6-3, 6-0, while Rome semifinalist Ernests Gulbis of Latvia continued to impress as he put out Russian 10th-seed Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.
Frenchman Gael Monfils had an 11-minute win as good friend and German opponent Philipp Petzschner had to quit with a leg injury at 1-1.
Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka will face Roger Federer in the third round after his win over injured Argentine Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-2, who quit with a right arm injury.
