Nadal Wins 6-1, 6-0 in Historic Age-Gap Match, Begins Last Madrid Campaign

Apr 25, 2024, 03:57 PM

In a historic match at the Madrid Open, Rafael Nadal, aged 37, defeated 16-year-old American wildcard Darwin Blanch with a score of 6-1, 6-0. This match, part of Nadal's last Madrid campaign, marked the largest age gap in a singles match in Masters 1000 history, spanning 21 years and 117 days. It was only the second ATP Tour match for Blanch, who is ranked 1,028th. His reaction to drawing Nadal was one of disbelief and amusement. Nadal's victory sets him up for a second-round clash against Alex de Minaur, who had previously defeated Nadal in Barcelona. The match was notable not only for the significant age difference but also for Nadal's dominant performance, securing his 57th win at the Madrid Masters, a record for the tournament.