ATP World Tour Finals, Rafael Nadal bounced back to surpass Andy Roddick
The top seed and World number one Rafael Nadal fought back from a set down to overpower his American foe, Andy Roddick in his opening Group A clash at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals on Monday. The score line was 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.
The professional tennis ace from Spain is making his sixth consecutive appearance in the year finale in London. He previously reached the semi final round back in 2006 and 2007, falling to the Swiss tennis maestro Roger Federer on both occasions. The 24-year-old
Rafa as a result of this victory will next take on Novak Djokovic of Serbia on Wednesday.
“To win a battle here is very important for me. I can come with a bit more calmness in the next clash. But even if I lose the next encounter, I am still going to have chances to reach the final four. So that is comforting me a bit more. It is highly positive
win for me and very significant”, reflected the Spaniard on Monday.
Nadal, who was contesting in his first clash in five weeks, started off the match slowly and had to pay the price for it as he lost the opening set at 0-3. The Manacor native failed to break his opponent’s defences, despite two opportunities during the fifth
game and Roddick thus earned a one set lead.
Roddick, who is seeded number eight to win the title in London, then started the second set impressively as he quickly took a lead of 2-1. However, his lead was short lived as Rafa then bounced back and showed why he is ranked number one in the World.
With the bit between his teeth, the right handed Nadal broke decisively during the fifth game of the last set and went on to clinch a win in the end. The battle lasted for a time period of two hours and thirty-four minutes.
“I think I was very close to losing that is true. I was in critical situation when I lost my serve in the second set because that is the normal thing. You play against one of the best servers of the world; I was not feeling very well on court. What I can
do is try to keep playing with positive attitude, try to play a little bit better, and wait for the chance. It happened. For that reason, I am here today for the victory”, admitted the World number one.
Nadal by virtue of this victory has also improved his win loss mark to 68-9 this year. He has captured seven tour level crowns from eight title battles, including three successive Grand Slam events at French Open, Wimbledon and the United States Open in
New York.
After winning the Flushing Meadows title, the Spaniard also successfully completed his career Grand Slam and thus registered his name as the youngest contender in the Open Era to achieve this feat. Rafa will finish the season ranked number one in the South
African Airways 2010 ATP list on the second occasion in his career.
Roddick, 28, from the United States of America, on the other hand, was competing on the Centre Court at the year finale in London on the first occasion after being pulled out of the prestigious event last year as a result of injury. He has made it into the
elite eight man field eight times in a row and advanced into the final four stage thrice.
The American, who was playing in his ninth encounter with Nadal, and first since surpassing him in the semi final round of the Sony Ericsson Open back in April, while commenting on the loss after the match, said that the tie-break in the second set was the
turning point in the contest.
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