Rafael Nadal has progressed to the second round at the US Open after a tough straight sets victory over Andrey Golubev.
The world number two was not given an easy time in his first ever encounter with number 97 seed Golubev, from Kazakhstan.
In the first set Golubev broke Nadal in the fifth game, before the Spaniard broke back and claimed the set 6-3.
In the second, Golubev broke in the second game and had a comfortable lead at 5-3, with two set points in the ninth game, before Nadal clawed back and took the set 7-6 (7-1).
Nadal had a further uphill challenge in the third set, coming back from 5-2 down to muster a 7-5 win for the set and the match.
In the second round Nadal takes on France's Nicolas Mahut.
Written by
Neil Wilkes
Neil Wilkes
