Rafael Nadal doesn’t seem to enjoy the Open.
After his second round match, which ended well after midnight on Friday night, he complained about the late start time. Late start times are part of the charm of the Open and whether players like them or not, they should say they do (even Federer, who says he loves everything about the Open, very quietly admitted last week that he prefers to play at 11 a.m. rather than 10 p.m.). Whether because of injuries or the surface, this is the only Slam in which Nadal seems to lose that usual fire he brings to the court.
Yesterday, after an odd injury timeout where a trainer was called to rub some ointment on his stomach, he told the press he had no interest in chatting about what was ailing him.
“No, I don’t want to talk about injuries,” he said after his match. “Sorry. No, no, I am a little bit tired to talk about injuries.”
Well then!
In other action yesterday: The Taylor Dent express came to a halt. Andy Murray defeated the lovable American in three easy sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Del Porto, Tsonga, Cilic, Ferrero, Gonzalez and Monfils all won.
Serena Williams destroyed Daniela Hantuchova 6-2, 6-0 yesterday morning. And on Ashe, in an awful match to watch, Vera Zvonareva melted down in epic fashion and gave Flavia Pennetta a 3-6, 7-6, 6-0 victory.
