LONDON – In the late match at the ATP finals, nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal beat current French Open champion Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-2, Monday (Tuesday in Manila).
Although Nadal served and lost the opening game at love, he quickly recovered and put pressure on Wawrinka the rest of the way.
"I had one bad game, the first one of the match," said Nadal, a two-time finalist at the season-ending tournament. "But then immediately I was playing well."
The fifth-seeded Spaniard ended up with 15 break points, but converted only four — two in each set.
Nadal will face Murray on Wednesday, while Wawrinka takes on Ferrer.
"For sure I will have to play better, but you never know. That's why it's interesting here, you can lose the first match, still qualify," Wawrinka said. "I will have to play some better tennis."
The Spanish superstar will don the Indian Aces' colors in the upcoming International Premier Tennis League.
Nadal will play alongside netters Gael Monfils and Agnieszka Radwanska to name same.
The IPTL kicks off December 2 with Japan as the first stop. It mounts its second leg at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on December through 8. - With reports from PhilStar.com