Rafael Nadal continues winning ways in opening match at Wimbledon

After winning the French Open, Rafael Nadal looks confident on the Wimbledon grass courts.

Jon Wertheim | Jul 3, 2017

Rafael Nadal continues winning ways in opening match at Wimbledon /

Rafael Nadal has won the Wimbledon title twice (2008 and 2010) and has been to the finals five times. It’s also been years since he played beyond the first week.

For the first time since 2015, @RafaelNadal returns to the grass at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/knwnaSpFkw
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 3, 2017

On Monday, he looked like an old grass court pro, smoking Australia’s John Millman in straight sets. Nadal’s pathological modesty to the contrary, you can practically see the confidence glistening off his body. Nadal unfurled some silly angles, maneuvered slickly and pushed his 2017 Grand Slam record to 14-1.

Published Jul 3, 2017

JON WERTHEIM

Jon Wertheim is a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and has been part of the full-time SI writing staff since 1997, largely focusing on the tennis beat , sports business and social issues, and enterprise journalism. In addition to his work at SI, he is a correspondent for "60 Minutes" and a commentator for The Tennis Channel. He has authored 11 books and has been honored with two Emmys, numerous writing and investigative journalism awards, and the Eugene Scott Award from the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Wertheim is a longtime member of the New York Bar Association (retired), the International Tennis Writers Association and the Writers Guild of America. He has a bachelor's in history from Yale University and received a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania. He resides in New York City with his wife, who is a divorce mediator and adjunct law professor. They have two children.