TORONTO – On paper, Rafael Nadal won in straight sets (6-4, 6-3) over Rogers Cup second-round opponent Hyung-Taik Lee, but the match did not show the domination that many expected from one of the tournament favourites.
The match featured the players trading breaks as often as they did serves, with the seventh game of each set being particularly poignant.
In the seventh game of the first set, the Spaniard had a chance to break, but Lee managed to thwart the effort and keep the match close at 4-3 before Nadal won the next two games.
In the seventh game of the second set, Nadal had two break opportunities and this time managed to capitalize, which gave him the heavy advantage leading to the win.
At a post-game press conference, Nadal said that he expected a tough match from Lee.
“No, I know Lee is a good player. He’s an aggressive player,” he said. “He has a very good talent. He don’t serve bad. He has a good forehand. Is tough playing him.”
Nadal also admitted that he didn’t play his best game.
“Yeah, maybe I don’t play my best match, but it’s okay,” he said. “I win. So that’s the most important thing.”
What’s next for last year’s Rogers Cup champ? A date tomorrow with Tomas Berdych, a player that Roger Federer has said is a threat. Nadal said that he knew it would be a tough battle.
“He has a very good potential,” he said. “He has a very good serve, very good forehand, very good backhand. If he feel he’s hundred percent, going to be very, very difficult match.”
While much has been made of the expected final match with Federer, it is quite clear that Nadal recognizes that some improvements have to be made in his game in order to repeat.
“My serve a lot, that’s important,” he said. “The winner with my forehand is very important. And improve a little bit the level of the all shots when I am playing the rally, improve a little bit the speed.”
Nadal plays Berdych tomorrow afternoon.
