Wimbledon 2018 – Dudi Sela beaten in straight sets by Rafael Nadal

Dudi Sela’s Wimbledon was ruthlessly ended by Rafael Nadal on Tuesday afternoon.

Israel’s top-ranked player – and their only singles representative – was handed the unenviable task of taking on the world number one – and in truth proved no match for the Spaniard.

Having lost their two previous meetings, with Nadal not dropping a set in either of those matches, the omens weren’t looking good for Sela.

An even start on centre court – the first seven games all went with serve, before Nadal broke in the eighth – and then served it out, with less than half an hour on the clock.

The story of the second set was two more broken service games – Sela’s opener and then with him serving to stay in it at 5-3 – both of which Nadal took to take firm control of the game.

A glimmer of hope was offered to the Israeli as the start of the third – with him breaking Nadal, but any momentum he may have had was taken when he was broken back immediately. Another break, coupled with some spurned break points, saw Nadal take a 5-2 lead, and with Sela serving to stay in the match – he wasn’t able to, as Nadal sealed a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win.

REACTION TO FOLLOW…