Rafael Nadal Interrupted By Rain

2 months ago 11th Sep 11:56

Rafael Nadal's quarter final match with Fernando Gonzalez was stopped last night by the first rain for the 2009 tournament at Flushing Meadows.

The soon to be world number two was a set up against the eleventh seed when they were forced to stop play for the first time.

However it hadn't been plain sailing for the Spaniard who had to call the trainer on court for further treatment on the abdominal strain that hampered him earlier in the week.

Despite not showing any ill effects of the injury in his fourth round match again Gael Monfils on Tuesday it was the abdominal issue and not the tendonitis that has been a cause for concern.

However early in the first set there was no sign of any injury from Nadal as he attempted to snatch the last semi final place.

The pair produced an impressive serving display early in the match as they went toe to toe and Gonzalez had a 6-5 lead.

Nadal had to serve to stay in the set and Gonzalez put him under all sorts of pressure to force a set point, but he wasted it by missing a second serve return.

Gonzalez got a second chance at clinching the set but a stunning forehand from Nadal into the corner of the court to save the set, before going on to hold serve and push the first set to a tie break.

The Spaniard dominated the early part of the tie break as he opened up a 3-0 lead but a couple of surprising forehand errors from Nadal saw Gonzalez peg the score back to 4-3.

But the Spaniard dug in before getting two set points of his own taking the set when he pushed Gonzalez's forehand wide.

But Nadal, who is trying to complete a career Grand Slam, called the trainer on the court at the end of the set to receive treatment on his stomach. Throughout the three minute medical timeout Nadal looked visibly uncomfortable with the injury.

However the injury didn't appear to hamper Nadal in the second set as he held his own serve before applying pressure to Gonzalez.

But at 2-2 the rain came and the players were escorted off court, a relief for Nadal who would be able t get extensive treatment on the injury from his own trainer.

Seventy minutes later they were back and once again. At the restart the injury didn't appear to be effecting the Spaniard's serve as both players once again put in impressive service performances.

5-4 up Nadal wasted set points and a 6-6 score line ensured a second tie break. Nadal was 3-2 up in the tie break, four points from the second set, when the rain came again and the match was abandoned for the night.

Play will resume this afternoon after the completion of the first women's semi final between Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams.

However if either Nadal or Gonzalez have plans on winning the U.S. Open title they will now have to play four days on the trot. And waiting for them in the semi final is Juan Martin Del Potro.