Rafael Nadal made a robust return after being a set down in his electrical first spherical match on the U.S. Open towards wildcard Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday night time.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner took the final three units to win 4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The previous North Carolina participant remained shut all through the match after taking the primary set from the Spaniard. The Australian saved 4 match factors within the remaining recreation, which additionally went into seven deuces earlier than Nadal took the ultimate level to advance to the second spherical.
If Hijikata would have upset Nadal, he would’ve handed the all-time males’s Grand Slam title chief his first U.S. Open first spherical loss. Nadal is 16–0 in his profession on the event’s first spherical.
After not competing in the 2020 and ‘21 U.S. Open tournaments, Nadal made his return this yr to the New York Grand Slam. He received in 2019, which means he hasn’t misplaced on the event since ’18.
On high of continuous his dominance on the U.S. Open, Nadal extends his profitable streak (20–0) at Grand Slam tournaments this yr. He stays undefeated in all main matches after profitable the Australian Open and French Open. He superior to the semifinals at Wimbledon, however withdrew from the match beforehand on account of an stomach tear.
The 36-year-old made his tennis return two weeks in the past on the Western & Southern Open. Now, he advances on the U.S. Open to attempt to seize his twenty third Grand Slam title.
Nadal will face Italian Fabio Fognini on Thursday. Fognini beat Nadal on the 2015 U.S. Open within the Spherical of 32.
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