For Nadal it was the first time since the Australian Open 2016 that he had to give up the first set in the first round of a Grand Slam tournament.
Now the superstar is the same against the world number 198. Rinky Hijikata happened, who played courageously against the big favorite and laid the foundation for winning the first set with the break to 4:3.
Nadal coped better as a result and secured the ticket for the second round with three sets in a row.
US Open
Clear edge after fiasco: Tsitsipas surprises with clear words
21 HOURS AGO
“It was a long wait,” explained the Spaniard after the win.
“Indescribable!” Nadal unpacks hammer blow at match point
It was 1087 days since the veteran last served at the US Open.
“For a while I thought I might not be able to come back, but now I’m here and super happy. The night sessions here in New York are undoubtedly the best,” said Nadal.
Fabio Fognini is now waiting for round two.
Don’t miss a moment of the US Open: This is how discovery+ works
The Italian had to do hard work at the start and was already on the verge of being eliminated in the 1: 6, 5: 7, 6: 4, 6: 1, 6: 4 win against Aslan Karatsev. The record against Nadal is clearly negative at 4:13, but at the US Open 2015 Fognini threw the exceptional player out of the competition in round three.
“Unbelievable!” Hijikata trumps against Nadal
Fognini makes up for a 0-2 set deficit – highlights of the race to catch up
US Open
Niemeier prevents German disaster at the US Open
3 HOURS AGO
US Open
“Pretty hard!” Defending champion Raducanu and Osaka react to Aus
3 HOURS AGO
