It was business as usual for Nadal as he eases pass Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-1,6-4,6-2 into round two of the US open 2016.
This year, US open joins other two grand slams, the Australian open and Wimbledon, in having a convertible roof on the centre court. However, Nadal kept the storm at bay and breezed into round two under open roof. It was vintage Nadal on display on the court as he landed numerous winners accompanied by a customary “Vamos”.
“The most important thing is that I am here in New York,” Nadal told ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi on court after his convincing victory. “My wrist is improving, and that’s good news.”. True to his words, Nadal has shown promise of improvement on his fragile wrist in the first round. Fans will be eager to know for how long the wrist will hold up, especially after Nadal withdrew from French open even after strolling through initial rounds
This year, wrist is a bone of contention for many as players like Djokovic and Nadal were doubtful starters before the tournament. Nadal’s wrist contributes to the heavy topspin in his swinging forehand and is critical to his play. With Nadal at ease, it will be interesting to see how Djokovic plays in his first round match up. Del Potro is another player with a fragile wrist who is playing in this year’s tournament.
With Roger Federer out of action and Djokovic a doubtful player, it is a golden opportunity for Nadal to make his mark at this year’s US open. We all know how a fit Nadal can decimate his opponents. The signs are looking ominous for Nadal after his first round victory.
