Rafael Nadal outclasses teenager Darwin Blanch in Madrid first round

Rafael Nadal, 37, dominated the first round of the Madrid Open on Thursday, defeating 16-year-old wildcard Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, will now face Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur, 25, in the next round.

Nadal took control early in the match, breaking Blanch in the second game and winning the first set in just 28 minutes. In the second set, Nadal broke Blanch again and maintained a high level of play, showcasing his experience and skill.

The age gap between Nadal and Blanch was significant, at 21 years and 117 days, marking the largest age difference between opponents at an ATP Masters 1000 level match.

Despite Blanch's efforts, including his debut in Miami last month, he struggled with 27 unforced errors against Nadal.

Reflecting on the match, Nadal acknowledged Blanch's potential, saying, "I think today I played against someone with a great future in front of him. Today he was making mistakes.

" Nadal expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play on the court and praised the support of the fans.

Nadal's win marked his 57th victory in Madrid, a tournament he has won five times. He will face De Minaur in the second round on Saturday, seeking to avenge his recent loss to the Australian in the Barcelona Open.