MADRID: Spain’s Rafael Nadal had an easy opening match in what will be his last appearance at the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament, defeating American Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0, in just 63 minutes, on Thursday.

The 16-year-old looked slightly overwhelmed at the partizan atmosphere in the Manolo Santana centre court in Madrid and Nadal, who has been training all week in the Spanish capital, enjoyed a comfortable workout.