Nadal finds his rhythm in win over Nalbandian

There were doubts over the form and fitness of the world No 2 coming into the tournament, but he delivered an impressive display yesterday against a dangerous opponent.

It could have been different had Nalbandian won the first set, and he went close to doing just that. An uncharacteristic double fault from Nadal on break point in the fifth game gave the Argentine the lead and he looked favourite to take the set as he tested his opponent in his next two service games.

But, serving for the set, Nalbandian faltered, with some great play from his opponent setting up break point, which the former Wimbledon finalist donated with a huge double fault.

The 29-year-old’s talent has never been in doubt – he has reached the semi-final stage at every grand slam and lost to Lleyton Hewitt in the Wimbledon final in 2002 – but too often his body and his head have let him down.

He held on to force a tie-break that was as tight as the preceding 12 games had been, but Nadal raised his game to secure a mini-break at 5-5 and finished off the set with a big serve and trademark forehand down the line.

It was a high-quality set of tennis from both men, with Nadal making only four unforced errors, and the effort seemed to take its toll on Nalbandian as he promptly lost the next four games and, in 27 minutes, the second set.

He found his range again at the start of the third, breaking the Nadal serve immediately, but the Spaniard wasted no time in getting back on level terms and then took an injury time-out to receive treatment for blisters on his right foot.

It did not seem to affect the 25-year-old’s movement and he broke again for 4-2 but, serving for the match, he again threw in a double fault on break point, Nalbandian successfully challenging a line call to get back to 5-4 down.

He then had another break point for a fourth game in a row but could not take it, and Nadal promptly brought up three match points on his opponent’s serve, taking the third when Nalbandian double-faulted for a seventh time.

It was a great effort from the Argentine, who is good friends with Nadal, but 60 unforced errors in comparison to 18 from the champion proved the difference.

“It was a tough day,” Nadal said in an on-court interview. “He’s a great player, a fantastic player. He’s a close friend, so all the best for him in the future. I think I played my best match of the tournament, so I’m happy for that. Every day is tougher and tougher.”

Next up for Nadal will be Gilles Muller of Luxembourg, a straight sets winner against Russian Igor Kunitsyn.

Novak Djokovic showed why he is the hot favourite to win the US Open title with a rock-solid performance to beat wily Nikolay Davydenko 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in his third round match.

It was the sort of contest that could have tripped up the pre-2011 Djokovic but, although it was not easy for the world No 1, he never looked in any danger.

Djokovic, who next faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, finished his on-court interview with a dance but he was not entirely happy with his performance. He said: “I played well in the important moments and managed to make crucial breaks in all three sets. He was playing very aggressively and I was aware of that before. I was very passive so I wasn’t really happy with the game.

“I didn’t feel great from the back of the court but I knew what to play and that’s what matters the most.”

Meanwhile, Roger Federer aimed some thinly-veiled criticism at his fellow players for the record number of retirements at the tournament this year.

Tomas Berdych and Marcel Granollers both pulled out yesterday to take the total number of mid-match retirements to 14, two more than the previous Open era grand slam record, at Wimbledon in 2008, with more than a week of the tournament still to go. Federer, who beat a resurgent Marin Cilic 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round, said: “I’d say 50 per cent of them are unlucky because they’re not feeling well or getting injured or carrying an injury.

“It comes out in best-of-five-set tennis. You can’t hide it, in my opinion. Could some guys finish the matches? I’m sure, but they didn’t decide to. For me it is shocking to see so many retirements. I have never retired in my whole life, except once when I played against [James] Blake in Paris, but I didn’t even walk on to the court.

“For me, it doesn’t matter how bad I’m feeling, I will be out there and giving it a try, because you never know what’s going to happen. Every player feels different. It’s unfortunate it happens for the fans, I guess.”

As well as the 14 retirements, there have also been two players who pulled out before the start and two more opting not to begin their matches, including Venus Williams. While Federer focused on the responsibility of players, Andy Murray believes it is a result of the length of the tennis season and the lack of rest.

He said on Twitter: “Is the 18th pull-out in the US open telling the tennis authorities anything?? No?? Thought not....”