'Inventing fashion': $1.4m detail in Rafa Nadal's French Open outfit
Rafael Nadal produced a masterful display to ease into the second round of the French Open on Monday.
The clay-court master started his quest for a record-extending 13th French Open title with a straightforward 6-4 6-4 6-2 win against Belarusian Egor Gerasimov.
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While his skills with the racquet were certainly eye-catching, many fans took more notice of what he was wearing.
The 19-time grand slam champion strolled out onto Court Philippe-Chatrier on Monday wearing a white jacket over a baby blue outfit, sporting a hot pink face mask to match his headband.
When he finished his warmup and stripped off the jacket, fans got the full glimpse of the fetching blue number accompanied by pink wristbands.
Fans flocked to social media to discuss the fashion statement, with most expressing their approval.
I love Nadal’s outfit colors
— Jay (@hardinjamie95) September 28, 2020
Nadal’s baby blue outfit is beautiful 😍🥺 such a shame about the hot pink headband and wrist braces, imagine if those were in black or white
— Sandra (@sandrainexile) September 28, 2020
I am in love with Nadal’s outfit and it’s color 😍 perfect color for clay court #RG2020
— Ceren Demirkol (@Crndmrkl) September 28, 2020
rafael nadal is really out there inventing football, tennis and fashion at the same time https://t.co/6plfwyi7C9
— Rey (@reysephone) September 28, 2020
Nadal's Roland Garros outfit this year is amazing. https://t.co/3nTOHPEpbI
— Gherbi Hicham (@gherbi_hicham) September 27, 2020
However the most eye-catching part of Nadal’s outfit might have been his watch.
According to Haute Time, the Spaniard is wearing a custom-made Richard Mille watch called the RM 27-04 Tourbillon Rafael Nadal.
The flashy piece reportedly costs US$1,000,500 (AU$1.4m) and there are only 50 available to buy.
The new tourbillon RM 27-04 Rafael Nadal goes further in terms of shock resistance withstanding shocks up to 12000 g's, premieres a brand new TitaCarb® material and boasts an utterly groundbreaking look.https://t.co/wuNGiucu0v#RAFAELNADAL #RM2704 #RICHARDMILLE pic.twitter.com/sXN9pBEMlo
— Richard Mille (@Richard_Mille) September 28, 2020
Nadal cruises as big names crash out
While Nadal was untroubled, two big names - No.4 seed Daniil Medvedev and eighth-seeded Gael Monfils - crashed out.
Medvedev, already a set down to Marton Fucsovics, was given a point penalty for racquet abuse on set point in the second.
The Russian took the third but Hungarian Fucsovics hung on for the biggest win of his career, winning 6-4 7-6 (6-3) 2-6 6-1.
Local hope Monfils was beaten 6-4 7-5 3-6 6-3 by unseeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik, who posted his first career win over a top-10 player in six attempts.
Nadal, looking to equal Roger Federer's record of 20 grand slam men's singles titles, is used to slow starts at Roland Garros and this year’s debut was no different.
On the revamped court Philippe Chatrier, whose roof stayed open throughout, Nadal converted all of his five break points to set up a meeting with American Mackenzie McDonald.
The second seed, who had complained about the new balls being too heavy, did not appear too bothered in front of 200 fans, wrapping up the match with a service winner.
Nadal piled on the pressure to seal a routine win, moving a step closer to a potential semi-final with last year's runner-up Dominic Thiem.
US Open champion Thiem cruised to a 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Croatia's Marin Cilic earlier.
In other men’s play, 19th-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime lost to Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan 7-5 6-3 6-3.
with AAP
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