RAFAEL NADAL KING OF TENNIS

Abierto Mexicano Telcel 2022 R2 Rafael Nadal bt. Stefan Kozlov  6-0 6-3

Next - Tommy Paul

In his first tournament since winning a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam at the Australian Open, Nadal has improved to a career-best 12-0 start to the new season. Nadal started the 2014 season with 11 straight wins before losing to Stan Wawrinka in the Australian Open final.

Rafa: "A little bit of a strange match. Kozlov has a different style than most other players, so you need to be very careful. Sometimes you are able to win points in a row, but then if you start to play at his rhythm, it's very difficult because he has great control from the baseline and he's very smart."

"Always it's important to win as quick as possible but the most important thing is to win. Tonight has been straight sets, that's great news, and I'll try to be ready for tomorrow again against a tough opponent."

“At the end I’m playing and I’m competing. I’m competing well, and that’s the most important thing for me. After many complicated months, one gradually starts feeling better, somehow liberated"

Source: ATP

• Practice before the match

Photos: AMT; AFP; Getty Images; EFE; AP; Reuters

• Last game

• On-court interview

• Post-match interview

• Press conference