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Home  » Sports » PIX: Federer advances to 2nd round after Nagal scare

PIX: Federer advances to 2nd round after Nagal scare

August 27, 2019 09:47 IST
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Roger Federer celebrates after defeating India's Sumit Nagal in their first round match on day one of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing meadows of the Queens borough of New York City in New York on Monday

IMAGE: Roger Federer celebrates after defeating India's Sumit Nagal in their first round match on day one of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing meadows of the Queens borough of New York City in New York on Monday. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Roger Federer gave India's Sumit Nagal a harsh introduction to Grand Slam tennis as the five-time champion weathered an early storm for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win on Monday to reach the second round of the US Open.

 

When the match began it was Federer who surprisingly looked intimidated under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights as he sprayed errors all around the court but the Swiss great woke from his slumber in time to turn the match resoundingly in his favour.

"I thought I played like my beard today, I was rusty," Federer, who was sporting a few days worth of stubble, said in his on-court interview.

"I'm going to clean it up for my next match."

India's Sumit Nagal only qualified for the US Open last week 

IMAGE: India's Sumit Nagal only qualified for the US Open last week. Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

World number 190 Nagal, who has never earned a tour-level victory and only qualified for the year's final Grand Slam last week, came out swinging and even put a rare look of incredulity on the faces of those inside third seed Federer's box.

The 22-year-old Indian used impressive court coverage and sent heavily-spinning shots over the net during his dream start but his legs started to look more wobbly as the match wore and Federer righted the ship.

Roger Federer made 19 unforced errors in the first set 

IMAGE: Roger Federer made 19 unforced errors in the first set. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Still, the start to the match for former world number one Federer, who is chasing his first New York title since 2008, could not have been worse as he made 19 unforced errors in the first set.

Federer, playing in his first Grand Slam since he failed to convert two championship points on his own serve against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon, was down 0-40 while serving for the match but won six of the next seven points to hold for the win.

Up next for Federer, who is seeking a record-extending 21st career Grand Slam title, will be Bosnia's Damir Dzumhur, who beat Frenchman Elliot Benchetrit earlier on Monday.

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