Rafael’s Return

08/31/2022 Rafael’s Return

By: Matthew Cahill

Rafael Nadal Defeats Rinky Hijikata in Surprisingly Thrilling Opener

Last night marked the first time Rafael Nadal has played in the US Open since he won it all back in 2019, and his hands were full in his opening round match against Rinky Hijikata, a relatively unknown 21-year-old who was competing in his first Grand Slam. Hijikata immediately raised eyebrows by taking the first set, which marked the first time Nadal has ever lost his first set at the US Open. Ultimately, the four-time champion weathered the storm, winning the next three sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 to advance to the next round, but it didn’t come without a challenge.

 

It was likely a combination of Nadal shaking off the rust of playing in just his second match since injuring his abdominal at Wimbledon and him not knowing anything about his opponent, but Hijikata made the absolute most of his opportunity. The 21-year-old battled with Nadal for three hours and eight minutes, giving the icon everything he had, including fighting match point off four times in the final set. While he may have come up short in his efforts to pull off one of the biggest upsets of all time, he earned the respect of the New York City crowd for hanging with Rafa as long as he did.

 

Looking forward, Nadal is now scheduled to match up against Fabio Fognini in the second round, who has historically played Rafael tough throughout their matchups against one another over the years.

 

Additional Storylines

ESPN: Emma Raducanu’s Rocky Year From Champion to First-Round Exit

Bleacher Report: Venus Williams Falls to Alison Van Uytvanck in 1st Round of 2022 US Open

 

Photo: Frey/TPN / Getty Images