Rafael Nadal baffled by ‘unusual’ and ‘terrible’ start to comeback win over Fabio Fognini at US Open 2022

Rafael Nadal was left baffled by his own “terrible” start before securing a comeback four-set win over Fabio Fognini at the US Open. The 22-time Grand Slam champion advanced to the third round at Flushing Meadows, but only after he dropped the first set 6-2 and then lost his opening three service games in set two. Ad Fortunately for Nadal, he had broken Fognini twice to only trail 3-2 early in the second set, and two more breaks then helped the Spaniard level the match.

US Open‘Painful’ — Nadal cuts own nose with racquet during chaotic four-set win against Fognini5 HOURS AGO From there, Nadal took charge, and though there was a worrying moment in the fourth set when he cut his own nose with his racquet, the 36-year-old advanced with a 2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1 win – and will face Richard Gasquet next. When asked how he was feeling in the press conference afterwards, Nadal replied: “Little bit of pain, honestly, but good. Happy after a terrible start.

I don't understand yet how I started that bad because the feeling before the match was good. “These kind of things sometimes happen so I need to accept it and keep going. That's what I did.