Rafael Nadal hopes his Australian Open 2017 campaign could lead to more Grand Slam titles in the future as he opens the first Grand Slam event of the year against Germany's Florian Mayer on Tuesday.
Nadal opens the Australian Open in Melbourne with determination. The King of Clay, who has suffered from injuries and setbacks in the last two seasons, is uncertain whether he could win seven five-set matches in Melbourne Park, but Nadal insisted he is up for the challenge the event could give him.
"If I am here, [it] is because I believe," Nadal said, reports AusOpen.com. "I don't know here, I don't know Rotterdam in a couple weeks, in Acapulco, Indian Wells, Miami, and Roland Garros, I don't know. I can fight for the things - that really motivates me."
Any of Nadal's resolve will be tested when he meets Mayer, a 33-year-old veteran from Germany who is No. 49 in the world rankings. Mayer is tied with Nadal in their FedEx ATP Head2Head matchup, but it has been a long while since the Bayreuth native faced Rafa in a singles match.
Coming off a quarterfinals loss at the Brisbane International, the ninth-seeded Nadal has already tested his form after recovering from a recurring left wrist injury he suffered at the French Open last year. But the 14-time Grand Slam winner has insisted he is not injured heading into his opening match at the Australian Open.
"What do you mean 'pain-free'?" Nadal said, reports Tennis. "I am not injured, no. Pain-free is a long time ago."
The winner between Nadal and Mayer will get to face either Russian Mikhail Youzhny or Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who also kick starts their Aussie Open campaigns on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka advanced into the second round of the tournament after outlasting Slovakia's Martin Klizan in a five-set thriller 4-6 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-4. The victory booked Wawrinka for a match against USA's Steve Johnson, who dismissed Argentina's Federico Delbonis 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Live streaming info and score updates
Watch Australian Open 2017 Rafael Nadal vs Florian Mayer live via AusOpen.com or Watch ESPN. Live scores will be available during game days at the Australian Open's official website.