Nadal served first and held with ease. In complete contrast, Delbonis levelled in a game lasting 21 points, visiting deuce eight times, and in which six break points were saved.
At 1-2, Delbonis led 40-15, but a Nadal lob caused problems, Delbonis netted a backhand and Nadal hit a forehand winner. The resultant break point was converted when another Delbonis backhand hit the net. 3-1 Nadal.
Three games then went with serve, two of them Nadal’s to love, and the Spaniard led 5-2.
Delbonis served to stay in the set, and Nadal started with a volley winner. A double fault and 0-30. A netted Argentine backhand gave Nadal two set points. Both saved with good serving. Delbonis held on, and Nadal would serve at 5-3 for the set.
A Spanish forehand forced an error and it was 30-0. A rare Nadal mistake plus a Delbonis backhand winner levelled it at 30-30. An ace brought up set point. Saved when Nadal hit it long. Another set point was taken with a forehand winner. Nadal ahead 6-3.
In a frustrating set for Nadal, his opponent saved 3 break points in game one, 2 in game five, 3 in game seven, and 1 in game eleven. Nadal won 25 of 32 points on serve.
Despite the differential in ease of service holds, no break occurred and a tie break was required.
Points were on serve in the tie break until Delbonis was at the line 1-2. An extraordinary run across the baseline to reach the ball and then hit a perfect lob was Nadal at his best. Delbonis couldn’t keep the ball in play and the mini break gave Nadal a 3-1 lead.
No more points went against serve for the next five, giving Nadal a 5-4 lead and two serves to come.
A backhand from Delbonis hit the net and Nadal had two set points. A service winner and the top seed led 6-3 7-6(4).
The third set was on serve until the fourth game, where Delbonis served at 1-2. He missed with the first two points, and a mishit forehand gave Nadal three break points. The break came and Nadal led 3-1.
A simple service hold swept Nadal to 4-1 and ever closer to the third round.
Delbonis was fading after a strong showing, and in the sixth game he was passed by a Nadal backhand return to be down 0-30. He reacted well by sending a volley into open court, but it was insufficient and after a netted Delbonis backhand, two break points arrived. A thunderous Nadal return did the job and the Spaniard would serve for the match.
An ace began the game. A service winner followed. A touch volley for three match points. A missed shot at the net delayed the finish, but it came next point with a forehand winner.
Rafa Nadal won 6-3 7-6(4) 6-1
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