In a historic match at the Madrid Open, Rafael Nadal, aged 37, defeated 16-year-old American wildcard Darwin Blanch with a score of 6-1, 6-0. This match, part of Nadal's last Madrid campaign, marked the largest age gap in a singles match in Masters 1000 history, spanning 21 years and 117 days. It was only the second ATP Tour match for Blanch, who is ranked 1,028th. His reaction to drawing Nadal was one of disbelief and amusement. Nadal's victory sets him up for a second-round clash against Alex de Minaur, who had previously defeated Nadal in Barcelona. The match was notable not only for the significant age difference but also for Nadal's dominant performance, securing his 57th win at the Madrid Masters, a record for the tournament.
Rafael Nadal looked in complete control as he began his Madrid Open swansong with a dominant win. #MMOPEN #Tennis @ITGDsports https://t.co/rM8wfj15T5
Rafael Nadal wins in straight sets against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch at the Madrid Open 🎾 https://t.co/Dm44PoRjtR
Rafa is back in Madrid https://t.co/KDDs7oBRGw
☺️ @RafaelNadal ☺️ Nadal Jr taking in the moment too! @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/R1M1YiRN3J
Incase you missed it... 😍 @RafaelNadal did this 👇 @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/donJIN3EHY
🇪🇸 Rafael Nadal earns a first round victory in Madrid! The Spaniard defeated 🇺🇸 Darwin Blanch 6-1, 6-0 and looks to get his revenge on 🇦🇺 Alex de Minaur in the second round. The Aussie defeated Rafa in Barcelona last week. 💥 #MMOPEN https://t.co/Wfgmjokwke
"Trying to enjoy every moment" 😊 Rafa Nadal advances in Madrid ✅ https://t.co/ddSx35OuPr
57th win at the Madrid Masters 👏 @RafaelNadal drops just one game in his 6-1, 6-0 win over 16-year-old Darwin Blanch. The former World No. 1 sets up a rematch with Alex de Minaur in the second round. #MMOpen https://t.co/949HYYbiPj
Simply too good 👏 @RafaelNadal kicks off his Madrid campaign with a 6-1 6-0 win against teenager Darwin Blanch! #MMOpen https://t.co/aujVWPvUVA
Now on @ForbesSports Rafa Nadal Rolls At Madrid Open, But Status For French Open Uncertain via @forbes https://t.co/2T9UoHN083 @bgtennisnation @PatrickMcEnroe @ChrisMcKendry @Steve_Weissman https://t.co/gdvglTggWl
Rafa Nadal starts in style against Darwin Blanch 🇪🇸💪 https://t.co/zyBjfi4bKs
Gliding greatness 🇪🇸 @RafaelNadal notches up a record-extending 57th @MutuaMadridOpen victory 6-1, 6-0 past Blanch #MMOPEN | #ThisIsTennis https://t.co/d3XWCu8ufK
19 - Rafael Nadal has registered his 57th win at the Madrid Masters, 20 more than the next best; it is the only tournament at which he has registered at least one win across 19 seasons in his career. Home. #MMOPEN | @MutuaMadridOpen @atptour https://t.co/gMqscmSLou
Racing into the second round 🏎️ @RafaelNadal cruises past 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in Madrid. #MMOpen https://t.co/h2sBVhBmWI
Madrid R1: R. Nadal (ESP) erases D. Blanch (USA) 6-1, 6-0 in 64 minutes is Nadal now the favorite to win the French Open?
Rafael Nadal starts his last Madrid campaign with a 6-1, 6-0 win over 16yo Darwin Blanch. He looked good! Faces De Minaur again on Saturday. https://t.co/XQ6dwrM8hW
OLA OLÉ RAFA! 🇪🇦 Rafael Nadal logically dominates Darwin Blanch, 16 years-old, 6-1 6-0 to launch perfectly his last tournament in Madrid What did you think of his match? https://t.co/0yNDRKf1uc
No surprise but reassuring for #Nadal that he wins 6-1 6-0 in his #Madrid opener vs 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch Real test comes next in rematch with Alex De Minaur in round two. De Minaur beat Nadal handily in Barcelona but #Nadal moved & served well today on the clay https://t.co/zmtSDUu1wG
Experience over youth 🙌 @RafaelNadal is triumphant on his Madrid return! #MMOPEN https://t.co/IcfLYxT3PX
Positives only 😄 @RafaelNadal #MMOpen https://t.co/IcXMB0yp2f
Watch second set action between Nadal and Blanch I Madrid right here. https://t.co/9IRjrZrICh
Stats just incredible 😱 @RafaelNadal | @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/3VoUFpZxLY
First set in the bag ✅ Rafael Nadal grabs the opening set 6-1 over Darwin Blanch. #MMOpen https://t.co/D2IfKYYCdq
First set 6-1 in 28 minutes for Nadal over 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch in #Madrid 15 unforced errors for the youngster who is still adjusting to it all Nadal serving better today than in Barcelona #getty https://t.co/AaquxrralY
In command 🫡 @RafaelNadal takes the first set 6-1 vs Blanch at #MMOpen! https://t.co/56131KUA0q
Ruthless Rafa ⏰ 28 mins on the clock and @RafaelNadal launches 6-1 ahead @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/eJLfO7YGSq
Rafa hitting all the right spots 🎯 @RafaelNadal #MMOpen https://t.co/lsQSL406rQ
Make that 2️⃣0️⃣ Madrid appearances 🫶 @RafaelNadal | @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/qlZsPBc8xO
Vintage Rafa ✨ @RafaelNadal | #MMOpen https://t.co/G3avmYD4MT
Players and staff watching the Rafael Nadal vs. Darwin Blanch match from Madrid at the $15,000 @VeroFutures where Blanch is younger than everyone in the draw and Nadal would only be the No. 7 seed https://t.co/3gPK2r7lyo
#Nadal up 3-0 against an understandably nervous Darwin Blanch, the 16-year-old American who is struggling to keep the ball in play Too soon to judge much other than that Nadal is serving faster and better than he did in Barcelona #getty https://t.co/yIQ9EE3k28
Rafael Nadal (37) vs Darwin Blanch (16) - the biggest age difference between opponents in Masters 1000 history! 🕰️ #MMOPEN https://t.co/Zj8NIJGQpS
🐂 EL TORO is back in Madrid! Rafael Nadal starts his last tournament at home against Darwin Blanch ⚡ https://t.co/a7abnw9U0k
16-year-old American Darwin Blanch taking on 37-year-old Rafa Nadal in Madrid. Biggest age gap in a singles match in Masters 1000 history https://t.co/lZz6R032Cs
I C O N I C @RafaelNadal #MMOpen https://t.co/OsJZSVt2NH
'Guys I (really) play Nadal wtf' - Darwin Blanch, probably #MMOpen https://t.co/zMJB1gKHZn
Generations collide 🤜🤛 5-time champion @RafaelNadal (37) and Darwin Blanch (16) are competing in the biggest-ever age gap at Masters 1000 level at 21 years and 117 days! @MutuaMadridOpen | #MMOPEN https://t.co/V938b3mw2i
Gen Z vs Legend 🌟 5x champion @RafaelNadal - playing for likely the final time in Madrid - takes on 16-year-old rising star Darwin Blanch —>> https://t.co/hOHmv2wMlX https://t.co/P6njRl4x6k
A packed crowd as Rafael Nadal faces off against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in Madrid 🗣️ Stream live NOW —> https://t.co/tPoe44TDv0 #MMOpen https://t.co/j9v6atsRGu
Rafa Nadal now taking the court in his final @MutuaMadridOpen on @TennisChannel He is 37 and his opponent, American Darwin Branch, is 16. It's the largest age gap ever in a Masters 1000 event. https://t.co/iMHiXNfdLe
The calm before the storm 👀 @RafaelNadal #MMOPEN https://t.co/r86PxVztcm
Ready for Rafa! https://t.co/FMplIJmV6y
Challenger vs. Champion ⚔️ Looking at the upcoming match between Rafael Nadal and Darwin Blanch. #MMOpen https://t.co/og23PWnZOS
It's about that time: Watch Nadal's return to Madrid vs. Blanch right here ⤵️⤵️⤵️ https://t.co/5EmSQEKnZH
‘WTF’: Darwin Blanch Hilariously Freaks Out When He Realizes He Has To Play Rafael Nadal In The Madrid Open https://t.co/MbIn067nlY
Rafael Nadal begins his singles campaign in Madrid against 16-year-old Darwin Blanch. 🎾 Don't miss it! ⏰⤵️ https://t.co/oyzo1oxmWW
"Guys I Play Nadal WTF" - American Teenager Darwin Blanch's Raw Reaction To Drawing 37 Year Old Rafa In The First Round Of This Week's Madrid Open https://t.co/mN7Pq7XHue https://t.co/qgKO6ZZVTG
American teenager Darwin Blanch will play just the second ATP Tour match of his career against Rafael Nadal on Thursday at just 16 years old in the Madrid Open first round #AFPSports https://t.co/AKBYcBHOLa
POV: You're watching @RafaelNadal practice in Madrid 👀 #MMOPEN https://t.co/DymTr1dO4g
No seeds yet on the men's side in Madrid. But a couple of bonus unseededs as @felixtennis gets the big court early (5 a.m. EDT) and @RafaelNadal gets it later. Wednesday results, Thursday OOP here: https://t.co/wYk8s0FqPs (📸 Mutua Madrid Open) https://t.co/Ph5WCSV4b9
.@BettingOnX has a bunch of tennis best bets for tomorrow's action in Madrid. He also has some picks elsewhere around the world. 🌎 Check them out: https://t.co/Og49XMytem
Meet Darwin Blanch, the 16-year-old wild card facing Rafael Nadal American youngster speaks four languages, has been Carlos Alcaraz’s hitting partner and is more than 21 years younger than opponent at Madrid Open Read more ⬇️ https://t.co/iur3pFLx0T
Primed and ready 😤 @RafaelNadal #MMOpen https://t.co/fanpJ86Gtm
Imagine drawing Rafael Nadal in the first round 😂 16-year-old Darwin Blanch has a hilarious reaction to seeing his first-round Madrid matchup with the tennis legend ⤵️ https://t.co/qwQdyQi7lc
Sinner looks to close the gap for World No. 1, while Nadal draws 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in the first round 🍿 We're taking a look at the men's draw ahead of the ATP 1000 event in Madrid ⤵️ https://t.co/Pua2REFXkc
American teen tennis star Darwin Blanch, 16, shares HILARIOUS reaction to being drawn against Rafael Nadal at the Madrid Open... after rare wildcard gifted the world No 1,028 a chance to play in the tournament! https://t.co/5eIYcDVoqh https://t.co/PlK6zWCIk8
Darwin Blanch was born in 2007. At age 16, the young tennis player is ranked 1,028th in the world. He turned pro two years ago and has received a wildcard bid to play in this week’s Madrid Open. His reaction to drawing Rafael Nadal in the first round: https://t.co/fDrTZT2nfu
ATP Madrid draw is out. #Nadal's next challenge: a first-round match against 16-year-old American wildcard Darwin Blanch and a potential rematch with Alex De Minaur, who beat Nadal in Barcelona https://t.co/mo4GMwhgu3
Darwin Blanch's reaction to being drawn against Rafael Nadal in the Madrid Open! 😂 https://t.co/Tu3IcnCMaZ
Nadal playing 16-year old American phenom Darwin Blanch in the first round of Madrid (Blanch trains in Spain). https://t.co/ZXQ8dVPa3F
Nadal plays Blanch in the opening round in Madrid. He'll likely take on de Minaur in round two.
21,117 - The age gap of 21y 117d between Rafael Nadal and Darwin Blanch will be the biggest between 2 opponents in an ATP Masters 1000 match, surpassing the 19y 204d between Gasquet and Landaluce (Madrid R1 2023) – since the format’s introduction in 1990. Generations. @atptour https://t.co/25Sm6dg4Wm
Just @RafaelNadal hitting balls in Madrid 🥹 #MMOPEN https://t.co/V1UTRVqjHt
🇺🇸 Darwin Blanch to face Rafael Nadal in the 1st round in Madrid ▫️ 16 years old ▫️ World No.1028 ▫️ 21 years apart from Rafa ▫️ So much fan of the Spaniard to the point of posting stories of his practice Magic. https://t.co/RbahoXLmrB
Madrid ATP 1000 full draw. 37yo Rafael Nadal gets 16yo Darwin Blanch in the first round before eventually having to face De Minaur again in R2. Nadal was already a three time Roland Garros champ when Blanch was born. https://t.co/5uf0Sm8SnR
21, 117 - The age gap of 21y 117d between Rafael Nadal and Darwin Blanch will be the biggest between two opponents in an ATP Masters 1000 match since 1990, surpassing the 18y 344d between Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors - Miami R32 1992. Eras. #MMOPEN | @MutuaMadridOpen @atptour https://t.co/25Sm6dgCLU
When generations collide 📆 Rafael Nadal will face 16-year-old Darwin Blanch in the opening round of the Madrid Open! #MMOPEN https://t.co/yhIGehc4Zp
🇪🇸 @rafaelnadal will open against Darwin Blanch in round one of the #MMOPEN https://t.co/N4Z1oPtolG
the calm before the storm ⛈️ https://t.co/Lh0A1EgOQ6