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Rafael Nadal Tries To Tame Wind, Field At US Open
By Richard Pagliaro
© Mark Peterson/Corleve
(August 28. 2010) Stretching his right arm and twisting his torso sideways like a contortionist slipping through subway doors a split second before they slam shut, Rafael Nadal was reaching for balls on the trot today and the sweat seeping from his ever-present Nike headband was a testament to his efforts.
All that activity took place after Nadal's late-morning, two-hour practice session as he signed for a slew of fans swarming around practice court 4.
The World No. 1 draws a crowd even when he's not playing matches, but can he scipt a successful climax after the US Open after two consecutive semifinal finishes?
The top-seeded Spaniard is trying to win the lone major that has eluded him, complete the career Grand Slam and become the first man to hold the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open crowns simultaneously since The Rocket, Rod Laver, did it in 1969.
The Open was played on the grass courts of Forest Hills in those days and while Nadal has won a pair of Wimbledon championships on grass, the blue Deco Turf of Flushing Meadows has served as a road block to his US Open coronation in the past.
"I just feel on average the US Open could be the fastest Grand Slam," five-time US Open champion Roger Federer said today. "That could be one of the problems for Rafa here in the past. But the problems are on a very high level. I mean, the guy's won in Australia; he's been here in three semis already; this guy doesn't need to learn how to play on hard courts anymore."
The speed of the US Open hard court has conspired against Nadal in the past, but he suggests the wind presents a great challenge than the court speed. Nadal has been hurt in the past leaving the ball short in the court and said today it is hard for him to hit through.
"I think I am playing better and better in this tournament, but still the center court (is) difficult to play. (It) is a lot of windy, always, more wind than the rest of the Grand Slams," Nadal said. "Sometimes when you are against the wind, seems like you are not moving the ball. That's my feeling for the moments. But I did well. When you are in the semifinals two years, why not?"
Nadal believes it's the bounce of the ball rather than the speed of the surface that has sapped some of the sting of his hellacious topspin shots. On clay, Nadal's topspin shots can bound shoulder high making the challenge of returning them as easy as shrugging a shot put off your shoulders but at the Open "the bounce is lower and the ball is softer. That ball don't get the topspin that I like to play with," Nadal said.
Of course Nadal can draw on the experience of his Wimbledon wins in 2008 and in July. Early in his career, skeptics questioned if Nadal could ever master the grass-court Grand Slam and his success at Wimbledon gives the top seed the self belief he can master the Deco Turf of New York.
"I always thought it was going to be easier for me to play well in Australian than here," Nadal said. "But at the same time, I always thought it was gonna be easier to play well here than Wimbledon. So you never know what happened in your career.
"I hope I have another chance to play well here and to have the chance to win, to win, but without obsession, no? Now I have the illusion to improve my tennis to play well here and that's what I am trying all the time."
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