Rafael Nadal drops first set but rallies to defeat Rinky Hijikata at US Open
Rafael Nadal drops first set but rallies to defeat Rinky Hijikata at US Open
Posted by Kevin Powell
The first set of the match between Rafael Nadal and Rohan Bopanna began with a roar as the home crowd roared back with the Spaniard’s trademark enthusiasm. It was a passionate match on the part of the players, who were very intense in both the first and second sets. And the winner of this first set, like all Wimbledon matches, was Nadal who took the initiative and began to attack Bopanna at the net.
Nadal hit 20 winners in 37 minutes of the service game, which was quite a break from the previous two sets. With Bopanna unable to find an opening and Nadal controlling the point and serving at 5-2, the second set began with Nadal playing a more conservative strategy and Bopanna getting more aggressive. This continued until the Spaniard won the match in the opening game.
It proved to be a classic game. While Hijikata had a shot at the first set point, he found Nadal’s backline extremely tough and, after some unloading, Bopanna found himself on his second break point, which he converted. However, there were plenty of rallies in the match as Nadal and Bopanna both found a rhythm in the second set.
The world #1 continued to control the point on his serve and serve it to Bopanna. He then hit another great match shot and served it out at 5-4. At the net, Bopanna had a chance to break again but Nadal would go on to serve it out at 5-3.
In the third set, Nadal began to show that he has no problem finding the game. He attacked Bopanna at the net when he found a way to win the first point, while Bopanna was defending a double fault. With Nadal serving it out at 4-3, the Spaniard hit a great ace and found himself on his fifth break point of the match. Bopanna, however, would be unable to find anything for himself and served it out at 4-3, but was able to tie the game at 4-4.
Nadal then began to serve it out at 5-4. At