"That was Rafa's C or D game, so hats off to him"

American qualifier Tim Smyczek, who was playing in just his 14th Grand Slam match and has won 23 Tour-level contests in his career, took Rafael Nadal to the wire on Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday night in a five-set marathon lasting four hours and 12 minutes.

"It was really special tonight," said the world number 112, whose best Slam run to date is a third-round appearance at the 2013 US Open. "It was pretty clear Rafa wasn't at his best. But it just shows the kind of player, the kind of champion he is because I could see he was sick and not playing well. That was his C or D game, but he found a way to win so hats off to him. That's why he's one of the best."

Nadal, the 2009 champion who eventually prevailed 6-2, 3-6, 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, will play Dudi Sela in the third round.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1E29Fvv

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