TENNIS Live

U.S. Open - 1st Round - Men

Nationality Player Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5
SpainR Nadal767--
GERB Phau636--

Björn Phau

Nationality GER
Date of Birth 04/10/1979
Height 1.75 m
Weight 70 kg

Rafael Nadal

Nationality ESP
Date of Birth 03/06/1986
Height 1.85 m
Weight 85 kg
 

Live Comments

  1. 22:42 - Great performance from the low-ranked German, who pushes Nadal hard...the world number one comes through in the end, although he was far from his best.

  2. 7-6 - Phau wins three points in a row to keep it interesting at 5-4...but a huge forehand followed by a smash earn Nadal two match points...AND HE TAKES THE FIRST! HARD-FOUGHT WIN FOR NADAL!

  3. 6-6 - Phau finds the net with a backhand from the baseline as he fails to capitalise on Nadal's uncharacteristic error the shot before...4-1 to Nadal...

  4. 6-6 - Missed chance as Phau dumps a volley into the net after an excellent approach...2-0 Nadal...

  5. 6-6 - We're going to a tie-break! Nadal holds to 30 as signs of weariness begin to show in Phau....can he hold it together enough to nick the tie-break and take it into a fourth? Will he even want to - he looks knackered.

  6. 5-6 - The crowd are loving Phau's efforts...great defence from the back of the court as he chases down Nadal's attempts to finish him off...and PHAU HOLDS! Incredible. Nadal has taken just 2 of 13 break points in this match.

  7. 5-5 - WOW! A Nadal double-fault at break-point...and Phau is back in it! Maybe he will get the set he deserves...big game coming up now, though...

  8. 5-4 - Nadal earns three break-points on the Phau serve...are the wheels finally coming off the reliable German hatchback? No, not really...he saves all three, with a little help from Nadal...deuce...BUT NADAL DOES FINALLY BREAK!

  9. 4-4 - No signs that Nadal is troubled by the blisters on his feet...he is moving really well, as always. Easy hold for the Spaniard, but he needs to find a way to break the spirit of the German on his serve...

  10. 3-4 - Phau holds again...he is keeping the pressure on the world number one...the German deserves something out of this match, even if it is just a consolation set...

  11. 3-3 - Phau gets to two deuces on the Nadal serve...but he just can't capitalise...he has done well this evening, but just not been able to close things out...

  12. 2-3 - Phau hangs in...he holds to 30...he's a fighter, this lad...we like that...

  13. 2-2 - A nice story about Phau: At the 2007 SAP Open, he showed incredible sportsmanship while playing in the first round against Konstantinos Economidis. A ball that Phau hit to Economondis was out, but not called by the line judge. Economidis returned it, and Phau having seen that his ball was out, let the return go by, giving the point to Economidis. Phau went on to win the match and advance to the second round. Nadal holds to 30...

  14. 1-2 - Phau has only ever played 118 matches in total on the full ATP tour, winning 42 of them, since turning pro in 1999. By way of a contrast, Nadal has already played 397 matches on tour since turning pro in 2001. His first love service game of the match sees him into a 2-1 lead...

  15. 1-1 - A second love service game on the trot for Nadal...he'll be keen to get this one wrapped up...get back to the hotel and put his dodgy feet up...he's got worse feet than my grandma...

  16. 0-1 - Phau holds to 30 at the start of the third set...good resiliance and determination from the German...no signs that he is willing to buckle...

  17. 6-3 - Nadal holds to love...he clinches the set when Phau goes long from the baseline...1 hour and 52 minutes into the match, and Nadal holds a 2-0 lead...

  18. 5-3 - A whopping forehand at 40-15 from Nadal, no chance for Phau...but when he finds the net with a return, Phau holds...Nadal has the chance to serve for the second set...

  19. 5-2 - Phau is quite short by today's men's standards, just 1.75m. Almost a dwarf, compared to the rest of the ATP Tour; most players seem to sleep in manure, these days. A few errors are beginning to creep into his game...Nadal holds easily.

  20. 4-2 - A rare missed volley at the net from Phau...he's one of five German's in the main draw here...Nadal wins three points on the trot to get to break-point...and an error from the baseline sees the FIRST BREAK OF SERVE IN THE MATCH!

  21. 3-2 - Phau earns his first break-point against the Nadal serve...the crowd come alive a little, they have been a bit flat so far...Nadal saves as Phau fires long from the baseline...solid from Nadal at the end of the game to hold...

  22. 2-2 - Nadal wins a battle at the net to go 0-15 up on the Phau serve...he earns a break-point when Phau finds the net-chord with a fizzing forehand...but the German saves it with a smash at the net...and he goes on to hold. Still no breaks of serve in this match...

  23. 2-1 - Nadal's second love-service game of the match, although he calls the trainer out in between games to take a look at the sole of his left foot...another blister, it seems...

  24. 1-1 - Phau has been playing mainly on the Challenger Tour this year, and doing quite well; he was a runner-up recently in Poznan and reached the last four just a fortnight ago on the hard courts of Istanbul. He holds to 15 to get on the board in the second set.

  25. 1-0 - Phau gets off to a good start in the second set, winning the first point of Nadal's opening service game...and gets to 0-30 with a fine forehand winner when Nadal makes a rare venture into the net...but a STUNNING WINNER ON THE RUN sets up game-point...and an unreturnable serve sees the hold.

  26. 7-6 - Phau gets to 3-3 in the tie-break...Nadal is taking interminably long between points...an ace moves the Spaniard to 4-3...and two error from Phau heaps the pressure on...a mis-hit from Nadal wastes one set-point...but he wins the second, despite a challenge, to win the set...

  27. 6-6 - Easy hold to love for Nadal, and we go to a tie-break, where anything can happen...Phau is playing well, he has a chance here...

  28. 5-6 - Phau will turn 29 years-of-age in a few weeks time; he got to a career high 58 in the rankings a couple of years ago, but has since slipped back...he booms down an ace on the way to a hold, and Nadal again has to serve to save the set...

  29. 5-5 - Phau, sensing his moment, gets to 30-30 thanks to a superb drop-shot...but Nadal's fizzing winner sets up a game-point...and the Spaniard holds...

  30. 4-5 - Phau gets to 40-0 thanks to a successful challenge when Nadal goes wide...but another approach and solid volley, and he gets to 5-4 in the first set...could we have a little shock on here?

  31. 4-4 - Comfortable hold from Nadal...coach Carlos Costa looks on approvingly, next to Uncle Toni...huge forehand takes him to 40-0...4-4.

  32. 3-4 - More confident play at the net from Phau...if he is to stand any chance this evening, that might be a good ploy...Nadal gets a break point with a forehand winner...saved with an ace...tough hold, but the German does eventually serve it out.

  33. 3-3 - Phau gets a foothold on the Nadal serve when he wins the opening point, but the world number one fights back, getting to game-point with an ace down the middle...and he holds with an error into the net.

  34. 2-3 - The majority of the crowd are on Nadal's side, it seems, but there are a few who would like to see an upset, I think...great skills at the net from Phau take him to 30-15...huge winner down the line holds to 30.

  35. 2-2 - Phau gets to 30-30 on the Nadal serve, but two more huge forehands from the world number one, and he levels things up...

  36. 1-2 - Nadal gets to deuce on the Phau serve...Sergio Garcia is spotted in the crowd, munching away on some fried chicken...Phau holds after a mammoth game, he is pushed all the way by Nadal, but clings on...

  37. 1-1 - Game Nadal as a Phau backhand finds the net.

  38. 0-1 - An ace up the middle from Nadal brings up 40-15...but a perfect lob from Phau foils the Spaniard.

  39. 0-1 - Superb forehand from Nadal finds the corner. 15-15.

  40. 0-1 - A backhand volley gives Phau gamepoint, then Nadal goes long with a forehand as the German holds in the first game of the match.

  41. 0-0 - Big forehand crosscourt from Phau brings up deuce!

  42. 0-0 - Nadal manoeuvres his opponent round the court beautifully, before putting away a big smash to get the crowd excited! 0-15.

  43. 19:40 - Phau to serve first.

  44. 19:30 - Rafael Nadal is now beginning his first match as the world number 1!

  45. 19:30 - Rafa Nadal has just walked out to an absolutely rapturous reception here on Arthur Ashe court - a mark of his huge popularity among tennis fans not just in America, but all over the world.

  46. 19:30 - Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's live text commentary of Rafael Nadal v Björn Phau