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20:57, 30-Aug-2017
Nadal and Federer enter into US Open second round
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Top seed Spaniard Rafael Nadal and third seed Swiss Roger Federer reached the US Open second round on Tuesday.
Roger Federer celebrates defeating Tiafoe of the US during 2017 US Open Men's Singles match in New York on August 29, 2017. / AFP Photo
Roger Federer celebrates defeating Tiafoe of the US during 2017 US Open Men's Singles match in New York on August 29, 2017. / AFP Photo
The 19-time Grand Slam champion 36-year-old Federer outlasted US 19-year-old Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 in a shockingly tough battle that boosted his hopes of a deep run on the New York hard-courts.
The third seed will next meet either Russia's Mikhail Youzhny or Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic as he chases a record sixth US Open crown.
Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Dusan Lajovic during 2017 US Open Men's Singles match in New York on August 29, 2017. / AFP Photo
Rafael Nadal celebrates after defeating Dusan Lajovic during 2017 US Open Men's Singles match in New York on August 29, 2017. / AFP Photo
Meanwhile, the two-time champion in New York, 31-year-old Nadal began his campaign for a third US Open title with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-2, 6-2 win over Serbia's Dusan Lajovic.
"When I was down in the first set, I just tried to be there as he was playing well and controlling the points," said French Open champion Nadal, who is chasing a 16th major.
"But the end of the first set was very important. I got the break back and after that, everything changed."
The world number one will face either Taro Daniel of Japan or Tommy Paul of the United States for a place in the last 32.
Nadal and Federer have never faced each other at the US Open but could meet in this year's semi-finals.
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Source(s): AFP