Rafael Nadal Marches On At US Open

Written by: Global Chick on 5th September 2011

Rafael Nadal Marches On At US Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain serves to David Nalbandian of Argentina during their third round match on the seventh day of the 2011 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA 04 September 2011. The US Open runs through 11 September 2011. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT |

World Number two Rafael Nadal was pushed a little bit today in his straight set win over Argentinian David Nalbandian 7-6 (5) 6-1 7-5.

Today’s match on Arthur Ashe stadium lasted two hours and 37 mintues. The Argentinian broke Nadal early in the first set. Nalbandian had 4-2 lead and was serving for the first set at 5-4. Nadal then broke back and the match was back on serve again. Nadal closed the set out in a tiebreaker winning 7-5.

The second set was no contest with Rafa being too aggressive playing some really good tennis. In the third set Nadal broke in the eight game and took a 5-3 lead, Nalbandian broke back and levelled the match 5-5. Nadal then broke the Argentine one more time and took the set and the match.

“This was my toughest match, and I played my best today. What makes it difficult is that he’s a fantastic player,” Nadal said. The former world number one is yet to lose a set at this year’s US Open. He took out Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan in three sets in the first round and in the second round he only played two sets before his opponent Nicolas Mahut pulled out.

The defending Champion is looking to win his 11^th Grand Slam title this week. Despite his lack of match practice since Wimbledon it looks like Nadal will get through to the quarterfinals at the US Open at least. His next opponent is World No. 68 Gilles Muller of Luxembourg. Muller overpowered Russian Igor Kunitsyn today in the third round 6-1 6-4 6-4.

Rafa’s win/loss record against Muller is 2-1. The two played each other recently at Wimbledon this year. Nadal won in three sets. If Nadal succeeds in his fourth round he is setting up a clash with the winner of fellow countryman David Ferrer or in-form American Andy Roddick.