Top-seed Rafael Nadal outduels Andy Roddick to win ATP World Tour Finals match

Top-seed Rafael Nadal outduels Andy Roddick to win ATP World Tour Finals match

Rafael Nadal of Spain recovered from one set down and had to bring his all-out effort in subduing Andy Roddick of the U.S., 3-6, 7-6(7/5), 6-4 in the initial game of the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Monday. It has been a very good year for the 24-year old as he has defeated many rivals in tournaments across the world. But facing Andy Roddick was not a walk in the park as the American won the first match. Nadal said he was also thinking about his losses in last year’s edition and that may have contributed to his struggles in the early going. The world number one was also playing for the first time in over a month because of a shoulder injury.

Roddick took the first set but Nadal soon displayed the winning form that he showed in dispatching opponents all year and retook the momentum to win his first match, an important first step in his quest to win the ATP World Tour Finals title for the first time in his career. The prestigious, yearend tournament is still missing in the resume of Rafael Nadal even as he won the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open, as well as an Olympic gold for Spain. After a dismal end to last year’s run he has come roaring back to become the number one ranked tennis player in the world.

“I was a little bit lucky tonight. I started the match a little bit nervous after five weeks without playing and made too many mistakes at the beginning,” Nadal said. “It’s a very positive victory for me and very, very important.”

Posted by Andre Monohan on Tuesday November 23 2010, 7:40 AM EST. Ref: Inquirer. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0