Rafael Nadal continued to cruise at the 2016 U.S. Open, defeating Andreas Seppi in the second round by a score of 6-0, 7-5, 6-1.
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Two-time champion Nadal, seeded fourth, defeated Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 to book a meeting with Russian Andrey Kuznetsov for a place in the round of 16.
The U.S. Open closed its new, $150 million retractable roof atop Arthur Ashe Stadium during a match for the first time Wednesday night.
The first set was about as good as it gets for Nadal, who served Seppi with a bagel to kick off the match. And the roof is so high you don’t feel that you are closed, no?
Nadal’s mood was in stark contrast to women’s French Open champion Garbine Muguruza who had preceded her compatriot on court and was upset by Anastasija Sevastova of Latvia 7-5 6-4.
“I was very happy to be the first player to play in the competition with this fantastic roof closing”, he said.
The Italian pushes hard in a twenty-five shot rally, but great defense from Nadal saves the first break point and the second comes and goes as the Spaniard closes down the net and consolidates the break.
The U.S. Tennis Association announced a multi-year partnership with Adidas on Thursday to make the German sportswear giant the official sponsor of USTA player development.
“I feel that the conditions are pretty similar when the roof is closed or open”, Nadal said afterward. “I feel that I played a little bit more aggressive than in the first round”. That’s my feeling. Today I didn’t feel the change’. Before the roof was closed, the two were tied 3-3 in the second set, but the Spaniard said he didn’t mind the noise and he seemed to get his second wind with a dome overhead.
“It’s great. It’s an unbelievable, unbelievable court”. “With the new court, even if the roof is open, there is noise out there”. Vinci needed just 22 minutes to win the first set. Normally, it’s probably not the fault of the people because I have been playing here for so many years and I don’t remember that noise when playing.
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Im very, very disappointed right now, said 23-year-old Vesely who was also forced to pull out of his quarterfinal in Winston-Salem last week with the same injury. “I need to have the confidence again with my wrist”. The heavy rain outside made quite a clatter on the new roof, and Murray said in his on-court interview that it was tough at first because it was hard to hear the ball.
