Rafael Nadal formalized the process to Nicolas Almagro (7-5, 6-4, 6-4) and fixed his residence in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, but he raised the competitive uncertainty about him and reawakened concerns about your physical condition.
The image of the Spanish duel, which eventually extended to four Hispanic representation in the fourth round of the tournament, told the two players lying on the floor before the fourth game of the third set, served on various ailments. Almagro took the opportunity to attend to him in the back, but before the third player in the world rung alarm bells when the therapist requested the presence of ATP Novotni Michal.
Rafael Nadal complained of pain in the abdomen and was treated there. So the air is the physical situation of the Spaniard, who turns a gesture when everything seems to be convulsing.
Nadal is back in a Grand Slam after falling at Roland Garros and resign Wimbledon because of tendinitis in his knee. He returned to compete in Mallorca cured after seventy days later to start the American season, which started with abdominal discomfort.
There was nothing alarming appearance so far in the Spanish physicist. At least purporting to give away. But the request for assistance on the court began to justify some things that were suspicious of his run of form in the game.
In fact, the first set was a seesaw of permanent breaks. Nadal did not draw well. He has not done throughout the tournament. He let's serve five times during the game. Excessive breaks for a candidate to measure his strength, in the third round and against an inferior opponent.
Almagro has never created so many setbacks to the Spaniard, who overwhelmed him in three previous events in which they had coincided. Especially noticeable is the latest in Paris in 2008, when Murcia was not able to do more than three games in as many sets.
Abdominal pain hampered the implementation of each point on Nadal and questioned his mobility. The situation rebuilds debate. A question their ability to cope with success in the only 'major' that is left to conquer. Only instability in the play of his opponent gave him the task. Almagro broke home and stood 2-0. But Nadal was not sustained and stood 4-2. The game lacked logic. Each player dropped his serve. It was the Spaniard missed the least and that the win gave him the set.
Something was wrong with the game of Nadal, the scene with the parking brake set. Without freshness. Conditioning. In the first meeting between the two on hard courts, Almagro rejected an opportunity to call into question the future in New York's former number one.
It was in the Nadal turned to third where doctor after signing as a break. By then it was well handled grief. Overcame the doubts aroused trance. Moreover grimaced when he shook the hand of his adversary, who confirmed his discomfort.
Nadal, who will play in the second round against the winner of the match between France's Gael Monfils and Argentina's Jose Acasuso, the process solved in a fruitful day for the Spanish courts.