Thursday 16 April 2015 14:40, UK
Barry Cowan backed Rafael Nadal to continue challenging for titles after he opened his clay court campaign with a ruthless win over Lucas Pouille in Monte Carlo.
The Spaniard, an eight-time winner of the tournament, advanced to the third round after inflicting a 6-2 6-1 defeat on the Frenchman.
Fitness problems have hampered Nadal in recent years and there were fresh concerns about his future after a surprise defeat by Fernando Verdasco in Miami.
But Cowan believes it would be foolish to write off the reigning French Open champion, who has started his favourite part of the season on the clay.
"Whenever a great champion talks like that, it would be a brave man to write him off.”
“There have been question marks about Nadal for a long time now,” said the Sky Sports expert. “I remember six years ago, people were saying that Nadal won’t play beyond 24 because of his knees.
“He’s 28 and he’s still winning Grand Slams. It’s only a year ago that he won the French Open. I always felt the first thing that would go would be his will, his desire to compete day-in-day-out. Not just on the match court but on the practice court.
“That’s why I thought it was refreshing what he said in Miami. He said he would sort it out. It might not be next week, it might not be in a month’s time, but he will find a way. Whenever a great champion talks like that, it would be a brave man to write him off.”
Nadal admitted that nerves had crept into recent performances, but he was rarely troubled by the outgunned Pouille.
He next faces John Isner, one of the biggest servers on the tour, and Cowan expects the Spaniard to receive a much sterner challenge in the third round.
“All the talk in the last two weeks since he opened up in Miami was about confidence,” he said.
“The first test was how Rafa would play on the big points and he certainly passed it, however, it was a player outside the top 100.
“Tomorrow will be fascinating, I wanted to see him play Isner, I think that’s another test. Isner most certainly would worry Nadal.”
