Rafael Nadal overcomes Fabio Fognini in four sets in US Open second round
Rafael Nadal overcame Fabio Fognini in four sets and his first-round opponent in the US Open second round got a break in the second set to level a match and lead 2-1.
Andy Murray’s second round win over David Ferrer got off to a good start, but he took the first four games in the opening set before Fognini took over. Nadal began controlling the rallies and made the French star serve into a 3-1 lead.
But Fognini rallied and broke to level the match at 2-2. The Italian then took the next two games by serving into a 4-2 lead. Nadal broke to win that game to send a player who has been dominant across multiple tournaments into the third round for the first time in the Open era.
Fabio Fognini’s dream run in the third round at the US Open continues. His second-round opponent, Rafael Nadal, had to hold on and get to the net as the Italian broke. He held on against a break of serve to level at 2-2. But Nadal, who took the first four games in the opening set, broke to lead 2-1 on a baseline backhand error.
Nadal, who won the opening two sets, looked to be enjoying serving and volleying his way to victory, but the Argentine served a break point on the second game, then broke again to stay in the match as Nadal could not break in the third game.
The third set was much of the same, with Nadal serving into a break point in the third game and forcing serve in the fourth to level at 3-3. Nadal broke once more, but Fognini held and made it 3-4 when the Argentine served for the set point.
Nadal served out the match to take the victory and go into the third round as a 1-6 favorite.
David Ferrer had been impressive in his first round win over Roberta Vin