Rafael Nadal ousted fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the U.S. Open on Sunday, beating him out in straight-sets 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.Rafa cruised past his compatriot without major resistance. Almagro did show some signs of a fight, using his powerful forehand to prove that the No. 32 seed should not be overlooked.
Nadal's health has constantly been brought into question during the Open, but there were no signs that his nagging knee injuries were holding him back. Instead, Nadal was revisited by an abdominal injury that has reared its head in the past.
Trailing 1-2 in the third set, Nadal called the trainer out to work on his lower stomach. Almagro also sought medical attention during the break, getting looked at for a tweak in his lower back.
Almagro seemed to have all the momentum until Rafa disrupted play to call the trainer. After some stretching, massaging and loud cheers from the stands when Nadal took his shirt off, the match resumed and Nadal coasted to a victory.
The only sign of the abdominal injury for the rest of the match was a few grimaces and self-administered massages, but you wouldn't know he was bothered at all by the way he played down the stretch. Nadal went after every point like he would never hit again.
In securing the win, Nadal advances to the Round of 16 where he will be set to play the winner of Gail Monfils and Jose Acasuso.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Rafa got broke five times and he had no issues... what are you smoking? Poor work as a writer.