If there was one quote that summarised Rafael Nadal's outlook on his tennis career as it stands, after his straight-sets demolition of Florian Mayer, it was this:
"I'm going to fight to not be worse and I'm going to fight to be again, better."
The veteran 14-time major winner was reflecting on his current world ranking of 9, compared to when he was No. 1.
He described his 6-3 6-4 6-4 win as "solid", a timely reminder that despite his well-documented injury problems, the veteran Spaniard won't be jumping up and down about a routine, first-round win in a grand slam.
Nadal is coming off two lengthy injury lay offs, the latest of which was a 2½-month break after pulling out of the French Open third round with a wrist injury.
He has consistently reminded us in the last week that despite the injuries, he doesn't need any more confidence or self belief to know that he has what it takes to win another slam.
And shortly after the cruising victory over Mayer, he maintained the party line. "I played a solid match. It was great to be back in a big stadium," Nadal said.
"I am happy with the way that I am playing, I had a good two weeks of a practice and it's never easy in the first round. I don't know. I don't think about [if it's the perfect start to a tournament]. I just know I played a solid match, straight sets win with a lot of winners."
Thirty-nine winners to be exact, 25 of them off that ripping top-spin forehand.
Nadal also didn't lose a service game. In fact, Mayer at no stage had a look-in at a break point. The Spaniard served at 70 per cent for the match, winning 41 of 53 points off his first serve.
It was a classy, complete performance. "Oh yes, it makes a difference. It's much better being number 1 than number 9, it's no question about that," Nadal said when asked about his confidence levels.
"But I am No. 9 today and that's just a real thing; I am the ninth player of the world."
Nadal comes up against Cypriot veteran Marcos Baghdatis in the second round, after Baghdatis' first-round opponent Mikhail Youzhny retired midway through the second set.
Nadal has an 8-1 record against Baghdatis, although their last meeting on hard court was back in 2010, where the Cypriot was victorious in three sets in Cincinnati.
