Nadal Overcomes Third Set Wobble to Reach Second Round

Nadal Overcomes Third Set Wobble to Reach Second Round
Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his first round match against Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo at The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on June 28, 2022. Toby Melville/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

LONDON—Rafael Nadal made a stuttering but rousing return to the grass on Tuesday, beating 41st-ranked Argentine Francisco Cerundolo 6–4 6–3 3–6 6–4 in Wimbledon’s first round to begin his campaign for a third Grand Slam title of the year.

The 36-year-old second seed, who has not played at Wimbledon since 2019 and stayed away from warm-up tournaments with a chronic foot problem, looked to be motoring through the match until a series of unforced errors allowed Cerundolo back in.