What a difference a surface makes.  Nadal had been coming off a series of losses in the US where his opponents would serve well enough to hold serve and then go for big enough shots that Nadal would struggle to hold his own serve.  In Indian Wells, Ljubicic lost rather handily in a first set, but started holding serve in the 2nd before he played one solid return game to break and take the 2nd set then win the third in a tiebreak.  Against Andy Roddick in Miami, the scenario was similar.  Nadal took one break in the first set to win, but then Roddick held serve from them on and applied pressure by going for his shots and breaking.

Once Nadal got on clay, in Monte Carlo, he steamrolled his opponents, primarily his countrymen, in a performance so dominating that he beat Verdasco, a top 10 player, dropping only 1 game.  Everyone said Rafa was back and certainly on clay, he is back.

When people look back at Rafa’s game, they may see an unusual style of tennis, one that is almost unlike any other player out there.  Most players, at least those that have some offense, are trying to set up an opportunity to go for a winner.  Perhaps the best player to do this is Roger Federer, at least, when he’s on.  Roger wants to hit that huge inside out forehand and be done with the point.

Rafa’s heavy strokes, however, give his opponents trouble.   Rafa doesn’t want to hit winners.  His style is more akin a good male pro taking it easy on a top woman pro.  The male pro would hit hard, but not go for big shots, and this would produce great pressure for the woman who would struggle to reach shots, and eventually elicit a weak ball (weaker than usual) at which point, a winner is almost a gimme.

Rafa’s immense patience means he doesn’t go for winners unless the shot is fairly easy (or if he’s in extreme defense and needs to do something to get out of a mess).  Although he is known as a defensive player, his style is not the same as Murray, the other top defensive player in the game.  Against Murray, a player is going to feel they can hit their shots.  If they get bothered, it’s because the change of pace Murray applies causes them to lose rhythm and make errors.  Murray will often bypass shots he could attack by keeping the ball in play which is something Rafa doesn’t do.

Rafa’s approach is to apply immense pressure (when he can) without going for winners.  He does this by looping shot high or hitting hard angled crosscourt shots.  As he does this, his opponents return, but he ups the pace more and more until you are struggling to get a decent shot, and eventually pop up a weak shot which he then puts away.  If the serve were ever removed from the game, Nadal might have been number 1 for years, because he relies almost entirely on his ground game to win games (although his serve has improved).

Nadal won his opening 2nd round match easily against an opponent that isn’t that easy to play against.  Even so, Kohlschreiber had few answers and fell easily, 6-1, 6-3.

In other matches, wildcard Volandri easily beat Benneteau 6-2, 6-0.  Benneteau had beaten Querrey in his first round.  Soderling won his match in straight sets over wilcard Lorenzi, 6-1, 7-5.  Qualifier Giraldo appears to be playing a surprising Rome.  He already crushed Ferrero in the first round.  Although Llodra isn’t the same quality opponent, he beat him 6-3, 6-2.  This could create a match that might be much tougher for Gulbis (who Volandri plays next), but I expect Gulbis’s power will be too much.  Even so, keep an eye on this match.

Garcia-Lopez had an easy match over Hewitt, 6-2, 6-3.  Currently, Berdych and Wawrinka have split sets.  Berdych took the first.  Wawrinka took the second.  They are on serve early in the 3rd.

And Roger Federer?  Well, he’s actually still in the tournament!  He and partner Yves Allegro won their doubles match over a respectable doubles team, Aspelin/Hanley: 4-6, 6-3, 10-8.  Recall they play a 10 pt tiebreak in doubles in lieu of a third set (first to 10 with a lead of 2).

Verdasco is on the court now against Simone Bolleli.