• US Open, Day Two

Nadal earns gritty opening round victory

Rafael Nadal was made to work for the win © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Murray hopes new diet helps combat 'unfair' schedule
  
• Profile: Rafael Nadal

Men's round-up: Djokovic races through
Women's round-up: Wozniacki starts well
British women: Baltacha battles through
What They Said
Plays of the Day
US Open: Day Two gallery

Defending champion Rafael Nadal commenced his US Open campaign with a solid, if unspectacular, 6-3 7-6(1) 7-5 win over Andrey Golubev at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Nadal was surprisingly passive throughout the opening round match, allowing the Kazakhstani to dictate terms on a regular basis. Indeed, the former world No. 1 stood excessively deep during rallies, and placed himself well behind the baseline when receiving Golubev's thunderous serve.

The submissive tactics of Nadal appeared to suit the hard-hitting Golubev, as the world No. 98 shrugged off a horror year which has seen him bow out in the first round of 17 ATP tournaments in 2011. However, the grit and resilience of Nadal ultimately came to the fore at crucial moments to see the Spaniard progress to round two.

Nadal broke Golubev in the eighth game of the first set to take a commanding lead. But the second set provided perhaps greater insight into the two competitors.

The Russian-born Golubev pounded heavy groundstrokes at Nadal, forcing the second seed onto the back foot for much of the second set. Golubev, in fact, held set points at one stage and appeared to have Nadal uncharacteristically rattled. But the class and composure of the 25-year-old eventually proved the difference, as Nadal regained control in the tiebreaker, while Golubev allowed umpiring decisions and minor errors to overwhelm him.

Golubev again took the lead in the third set, but failed to capitalise on his aggressive play. Serving for the set at 5-3, Golubev lost his nerve to be broken to love, before Nadal went on to take the set, and the first round victory.

Nadal will now take on Nicolas Mahut in round two, after the Frenchman came from two sets down to defeat Robert Farah 3-6 (4)6-7 6-2 6-4 6-0.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.