It is the longest victory at Roland Garros Nadal to three sets and the fourth longest game played in Paris
Rafael Nadal advanced to the third round of Roland Garros after his commitment to solve Pablo Andujar in three sets. Despite not dropping a set, the five-time champion in Paris is showing lack of spark on a mat in which we are accustomed to see him enjoy.
After all lines were written in the past 48 hours on the hard debut against John Isner Rafa Nadal at Roland Garros, the expectation to see how it unfolded with a player more 'earthly' as Pablo Andujar was inevitable. The Spaniard met his match with an aggregate score of 7-5, 6-3, 7-6 (4) after three hours and twenty minutes of play in a crash on a Suzanne Lenglen played on until the chair umpire was Spanish (Enric Molina). There was no precedent among both players despite being in the same fifth (`86), only Cadet Championship in Spain (2002) which won for Manacor. Andújar used the situation to try to play face to face Nadal in the opening stages of the match, where both were firm with their service. The Cuenca, Casablanca champion this season, got brave on track to bring the trade domain and try to Rafa will bring out a right that is still your best weapon. Andujar was the fate of those who depended on party at the time. With its decisions 'gave' two breaks (sixth and eighth games) and their successes contrabreaks signed two (seventh and ninth game), saving even a ball of adverse September. When everyone warned the tie-break, Rafa came on the scene to seal in white and the rest of the first round.
The harsh punishment of losing the first set weighed like a stone at the mind of Andujar, who dropped his serve in the second act at the first hurdle after missing a volley at the tape and hit a ball with the rod. Nadal was still not thin, uncomfortable on the track and slow movements, which caused him to lose his income immediately. But the Spaniard pulled back gallons at the crucial moment of the set. In the eighth game key always produced a ball break after a `rally 'by 35 strokes and confirmed the break causing the failure of its rival. It took the finishing touch to set (saved a 0-40 against), but he did. In any other scenario could be shelved to party, not being a Spanish derby on clay. Andujar did not want to leave Paris and below the lead, played his best tennis. Giving a good account of a wide range of resources, came to be seen Cuenca 5-1 on the scoreboard and service. He counted one, two, three or even eight ball set while Nadal clipped peligrasamente difference on the scoreboard. Finally we arrived at 5-5 and then a tie-break. Rafa, who had given the last four sudden deaths that was disputed, there could put the finishing touch to a game in which the highlight is his move to the next phase.
Victory is Nadal's 40th in 41 games this scenario deputies. To continue adding will have to wait to Saturday, where he will face Croatian Antonio Veic, which, from the preliminary round, got rid of the Russian Nicolay Davydenko by a score of 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, 3-6 and 6-1 after three hours and twenty minutes of play in a clash played on Runway 6. Nadal and Veic, 23 and 227 of the world, have never seen the faces on the ATP Tour.