Rafael Nadal defeats Go Soeda in 1st round – Rakuten Open 2011
World No.2, Rafael Nadal, seeded No.1 for the Rakuten Open 2011, went on playing against the world No.118, Go Soeda, the local lad, to play the 1st round match of the event. Playing on hard blue court at the Ariake Coliseum, Tokyo, Japan the Spaniard one handed the fixture winning the match 6-3, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes to walk off qualifying for the next round.
With all the Nadal fans roaring for their player, the two challengers entered the blue hard court and took their positions. Soeda, winning the service toss went on to serve the first game of set 1. Serving out game 1, the Japanese world No.118 took the lead and rolled down the score card first winning 1-0.
Serving second, Nadal levelled up the scores winning 3 game points and switched the serve next, 1-1. The Spaniard flared up as he broke the 27-year-old local lad and served out game 4 to take the lead, 3-1. Soeda did cut the lead, however, could not break back to level the scores at any point, 2-3.
With the world No.2 swirling away in the set, 4-2, it seemed harder for the Japanese to stop the top seed from winning the set. Eventually with scores at 4-3, Nadal served out game 8 and broke the 27-year-old in game 9 to end the set 6-3.
Leading the match 1-0, Nadal continued with set 2 as he served first and won the first game and switched the serve, 1-0. Soeda, looking to tail the world No.2, levelled up winning game 2 with 2 breakpoints and stood to return again, 1-1.
Serving out game 3, Nadal bulldozed the world No.118 breaking him in game 4 and serving out again game 5 to lead the set, 4-1, once again. Hoping to cut the lead down Soeda bagged a game, 4-2, however, was unable to break any soon.
With scores at 4-2 now, Nadal went on serving out game 7 and broke the local lad in game 8 winning the game, set 6-2, and the match in straight sets to walk off into the 2nd stage of the ATP Tour 500 event.
Making his way into the 2nd round, the top seed now has his eyes on his next opponent, the 20-year-old world No.30, Milos Raonic as they battle out for the quarter-final round or the 2011 Rakuten Open. Although the Canadian youngster has been marvellous in his last few games, he less likely to beat the top seed.
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