Rafael Nadal overcomes Fabio Fognini in four sets in US Open second round
Rafael Nadal overcomes Fabio Fognini in four sets in US Open second round
Rafael Nadal and Fabio Fognini were on the losing end of a closely fought US Open second round, in which Nadal was the bigger favourite.
The Spaniard took the opening set 6-1 and took a hold of that advantage, before Fognini’s best spell of the match came during the second set.
However the Italian broke back to take the set, and then broke Nadal twice more in the third to send the tournament to a deciding fourth set.
Nadal, who was in fine form, was never in real danger of losing the match, as the 30-year-old Fognini struggled to keep up with the big hitter’s game.
Nadal said: “It was a tough match. The first set was like I was expecting against someone who is playing well.”
Fognini, who played on grass for the first time in his career, said: “It was going well until he won the second set, then he came back in the third set.
“It was a tough match. Rafa was playing well, he doesn’t lose. He is great at points and you must have a look.”
The draw for this year’s US Open was based on performance in the previous three Grand Slams, and the tournament organisers had to look for a replacement for the injured Novak Djokovic.
Nadal said: “We drew for the US Open, because we play in all the Grand Slams, I was hoping for this draw. I am sure we can go out and win a good match against Fognini.”