Rafael Nadal overcomes Fabio Fognini in four sets in US Open second round – live! Read our complete coverage
What a great night for the US Open, with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal playing to a 9-10, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 defeat of the former world No 5.
In a match that could have gone either way, the Serb recovered from a set down to shock the world No 2. That victory also means Nadal will be through now too.
The world No 1 had to deal with some trouble on serve, but at times it felt as close as Federer and Nadal would get, and it was a match which showed why the players are world class.
Nadal – one win from a fifth Grand Slam title, and five French Open titles – needed just 90 minutes to put up a fight that Federer would not let go too easily.
Federer took the first set after an uncharacteristic error by the Serb at 6-4, but then he hit back twice, with his serve and forehand, to pull within five games, but Nadal held at 2-3.
Federer then hit a backhand to hold at 4-5 but Nadal replied with a double break point. He was serving to love with a break advantage but Federer responded with a double to take the set.
Nadal served for a 3-2 lead in the second, and it proved to be the turning point of the match. Not only did Nadal hold to love in that game, he got his first break point of the match when Federer hit a forehand long. Nadal then went on to win the second set and the match.
Federer was disappointed to lose and said afterwards that he was at a disadvantage on his serve but he still managed to win.
“I didn’t feel it was as competitive as yesterday,” Federer said. “I didn’t play my best and I lost the second set after winning the first set. If I would have won the second set
