Nadal struggles while Federer cruises

NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal struggled on a sore left knee past unheralded Australian Alun Jones on Wednesday to reach the second round of the US Open but his bid for a third Grand Slam final in a row appears doomed.

Severe tendinitis slowed the second-ranked Spaniard, who escaped with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory after two hours and 44 minutes against a 123rd-ranked wild card in his first top-level match outside his homeland.

"Maybe if I'm in another tournament, I never go to the court," Nadal said. "But it is the US Open and it is very important tournament to me."

Nadal grimmaced when the knee was being treated by a trainer after the third set, a sign that the three-time Roland Garros champion could struggle in round two against Serbian Jarko Tipsarevic.

"It's tough when you can't play at 100 percent," Nadal said. "I didn't move too much. I can't move too much. I tried to move as little as possible.

"But for me, the tournament is not finished. I'm still there."

World No 1 Roger Federer, who defeated Nadal in an epic five-set Wimbledon final after Nadal beat him in the French Open final, advanced to the third round past Chile's Paul Capdeville 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in 89 minutes.

"I'm very happy the way I played. I think I did well," Federer said. "I had to struggle a bit through the second set but I tried to stay aggressive and I think it all worked out."

Federer, seeking his 12th Slam crown and fourth US Open title in a row, is chasing Pete Sampras' all-time Slam title record of 14. He next plays 6-foot-9 American John Isner, who beat South African Rik de Voest 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

Women's world No 1 Justine Henin, Wimbledon winner Venus Williams, Australian Open champion Serena Williams, Serbian third seed Jelena Jankovic and Serbian fifth seed Ana Ivanovic also reached the third round impressively.

But the day's top story was Nadal's injury, which he said is not a long-term worry after an MRI. Nadal suffered the setback Sunday while practicing at Arthur Ashe Stadium with compatriot Carlos Moya.

"Two days ago I was so much worse than right now," Nadal said. "I didn't move so much but I played. I hope it will improve. If not I will try my best but..."

In the third set, Jones rallied from triple break-point down to hold and pull even, then broke to seize a 4-3 lead as the drama built. That's when Nadal, 21, had a trainer retape his left knee. He broke at love in the next game and won seven more in a row to seal Jones' fate.

"If I have to go out I have to go out," Nadal said. "But I'm playing more aggressive and I have to continue playing like this."

Nadal's quarter of the draw was eased by the ouster of Chilean seventh seed Fernando Gonzalez, the highest-ranked loser so far. Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili outlasted the Australian Open runner-up 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4.

That could also help Britain's Tim Henman, who kept alive his Grand Slam career by defeating Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Henman, who turns 33 next week, will retire after a Davis Cup tie at Wimbledon next month.

"I felt great out there," Henman said. "I was obviously going to enjoy it mentally. I played really well as well."

AFP

(China Daily 08/31/2007 page20)