Rafael Nadal is refusing to read too much into his four sets win over Taro Daniel in the second round of the US Open. Stumbling out of the blocks, the top seed had to fight back to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
Taking to the Arthur Ashe stadium to face a player ranked 120 places lower than him, Nadal’s biggest problem was his nerves. With little to distinguish between both players during the first eight games of the match, the top seed got broken in the ninth game before dropping the opening set. It was a far from perfect start for the Spaniard, who produced one double fault and 12 unforced errors.
“Of course, there is nerves there at the beginning (of the match).” Explained Nadal. “When you have some nerves, when you don’t convert a couple of love-30s in a row, 15-30s, then some break points, you arrive to 4-all. [On Daniel], very first break point, he make it, I miss it. Yeah, you feel one set down. Then, of course you play under more pressure.”
On the verge of experiencing a roller coaster match similar to that of Roger Federer’s meeting with Mikhail Youzhny. Matters were made worst when he went down an early break in the second set. Eventually Nadal managed to restore order in the match with the help of an improved first service rate. Inevitably, he demonstrated a level of tennis that proved too much for 24-year-old Daniel, who is yet to get beyond the second round of a grand slam.
“[I’m] happy to be back. The speed was positive. It was a good fight. I improved. The last two sets I played better; and that’s important for what’s coming. Of course it’s a day to be satisfied. Days that you’re not playing well, that makes the difference: Win when you don’t play very well. That gives me the possibility to play better. … I’m practicing well. I need to compete better. I believe I can do it.”
Hungry for more
This season has seen the Spaniard lift four ATP titles so far, including a record tenth French Open title. The performance is a stark contrast to 2016, when Nadal struggled with a wrist injury and missed a portion of the tour to recover. After such a stellar start, the 30-year-old is still hungry for more. With the focus firmly on lifting his first US Open trophy since 2013.
“I don’t feel fatigue. I feel positive. I feel hungry to keep playing. I’m excited for to be here. Not tired at all. It is the last big, big event of the year. I want to try all the things that are in my hands to give me a chance.” Said Nadal.
“That’s what I am doing: working with the right intensity, with the right attitude, then in the match I am trying to do the same. The first two matches have been, of course, not great, but I am in the third round. That’s the most important thing.”
In the next round, Nadal will play Leonardo Mayer. A 30-year-old Argentinian that has been ranked as high as 21st in the world back in 2011. Mayer has already scored wins over both Richard Gasquet and Yūichi Sugita in Flushing Meadows.
“He’s a good player with good quality.” The top seed said about Mayer. “I need to play better than what I did if I want to have chances of success. That’s what I am going to try to do.”
Nadal has a 3-0 head-to-head record against Mayer (not counting walkovers) and is yet to drop a set against him.
