Top seed Rafael Nadal overcame fatigue and a defiant display by German qualifier Bjorn Phau to launch his bid for a first US Open crown with a 7-6 6-3 7-6 win in the first round yesterday.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who clinched the Olympic men's singles title in Beijing only eight days ago, sealed a hard-fought victory in just under three hours on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
World number 136 Phau held his own in the opening set against the game's leading player before losing the tiebreak 7-4 but was swept aside in the second in 46 minutes.
Nadal, this year's French Open and Wimbledon champion, surprisingly gifted a break with a double-fault when serving for the match at 5-4 in the third before claiming the tiebreak 7-4.
"To win in three sets is always a good result," the newly-crowned world number one told reporters.
"I had some difficult moments, so that's going to help me a little bit to be prepared for the pressure moments (later in the tournament). I played well today when I had the pressure moments."
Nadal, who ended Roger Federer's record run of 237 consecutive weeks at the top, said he was still battling to shake off the effects of jet-lag after securing Olympic gold in Beijing.
"I am a little bit tired, yes, but it is the US Open so I have to try my best here," the muscular left-hander added.
Tired by happy
"The problem is playing Toronto, Cincinnati and Beijing, then coming back here. In two weeks, two times, 12 hours' jet lag. I'm a little bit more tired than I usually am but, at the same time, I must be very happy how I did this year."
The Spaniard has extended his win-loss record to a remarkable 71-8 this year, including eight titles and far more matches than any of his competitors have played.
Although not playing at his best on Monday, Nadal paid tribute to the quality of Phau's game.
"I think I helped him a little bit to play to this level but he's a good player and he played well today," he said.
Phau, who played mainly on the Challenger circuit this year, was delighted with his own performance in front of a large, passionate crowd.
"I learned that I could play with the number one in the world," the 28-year-old qualifier said.
"I had my chances but I missed too much. It was really fun to play in front of a big crowd."
Nadal will next meet American qualifier Ryler de Heart.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily August 26, 2008)