Focus matters to Nadal
10:15, 27 Jun 2012
Rafael Nadal was faced with a common line of questioning after his first-round win over Thomaz Bellucci yesterday - his long-standing rivalry with Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
The second seed got past the big-hitting Bellucci in three sets on Centre Court and joined his old foes in the second round.
As is often the case for the 26-year-old Spaniard, though, his post-match press conference featured a number of questions about Djokovic and Federer, the two men with whom he is constantly battling for supremacy at the top of the rankings.
That pair return to action today, with Federer opening up Centre Court against Fabio Fognini and Djokovic following him against Ryan Harrison.
"It is a difficult one for me to answer," Nadal said, when asked why the three of them are so dominant.
"Somebody asked me this question a few weeks ago at Roland Garros. My answer was, what has happened over the last couple of years is because we are very focused, playing great. That's why."
It would be wrong not to mention Andy Murray's name alongside that trio too, with the Brit, comfortably fourth in the world, also through after an impressive win over Nikolay Davydenko that saw him drop just six games.
Murray was a 6-1 6-1 6-4 victor and will now face the big-serving Ivo Karlovic.
"There might be games when I don't touch the ball and I will need to keep focus," Murray said.
While three champions are through in the shape of Djokovic, Federer and Nadal, one bowed out yesterday, with Lleyton Hewitt losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The 2002 winner is now 31 and struggling for form and fitness and conceded afterwards that he does not know if he will return for another summer on the grass.
"I've been focusing on getting back and doing everything right with my foot," he said.
"I'd like to be back, absolutely, but we'll have to wait and see."
It was a bad day all-round for the Australians inside the venue as Bernard Tomic, the teenager tipped to follow in Hewitt's footsteps, also went out, losing in four sets to David Goffin 3-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.
American Mardy Fish, back on Tour after a heart scare, saw off Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in straight sets but did not attend his post-match press conference after feeling unwell, while Juan Martin del Potro needed the same to see off Robin Haase.
Not all first round matches were completed yesterday, with Andy Roddick set to return to action today a set up on Jamie Baker, while the likes of David Ferrer, Jurgen Melzer and Milos Raonic are closing in on victory.
Other notable ties today pit Ryan Sweeting against Janko Tipsarevic on Court Two and Fernando Verdasco against Grega Zemlja on 12.