Rafael Nadal /Getty Images

Nadal Survives Moya, El Aynaoui Comebacks

August 9, 2005 - Rafael Nadal, the golden child from Mallorca, played with fire on the hot and humid courts at Montreal's Jarry Park in first round action at the Rogers Cup, a Tennis Masters Series event.

The 19-year-old Spaniard, seeded first, finally topped his friend and idol, Carlos Moya, 6-3, 6-7 (0), 6-3 in an intense two hours and 38 minutes. The only break of service in the eight game of the third set finally allowed the favourite to eliminate his compatriot.

Nadal requested a trainer at 2-2 in the third set because he had problems moving his fingers. “ I only have little bit cramps in the beginning of the third. But after, I feel good. Sometimes I have this problem, but is not important problem. Normally he come for two games or little bit time, and after go out ,” he said after the match.

On Wednesday, Nadal takes on Brazilian Ricardo Mello and the French Open champion won't take the match lightly. “I played against him in the semifinals of a tournament in Brazil and I won 6-4 in the third set,” remembers Nadal. “I'll have to play my best because the match will be a tough one.”

Moya, his victim, had only good things to say about Nadal. “You say that I've helped his progress, but he's helped me a lot as well,” he said. “ To be honest, I didn't expect him to be that good so early. I think there was a beast inside of him, and I think the one who woke up the beast was Roddick in the Davis Cup tie.”

Earlier in the afternoon, the tournament lost its second seed, Australian Lleyton Hewitt, who retired down 4-3 in his match against France's Florent Serra, suffering from a intestinal virus that has been bothering him for the last three or four days. “I haven't eaten anything in three or four days. I wanted to play anyways, but in today's heat, I just didn't have any juice left,” recognized the Australian.

There were three other surprises during the day session. Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, more comfortable on hard courts than his opponent, breezed by seventh seeded Argentine Guillermo Coria, 6-3,6-2; Robin Soderling of Sweden upset 14 th seeded Czech Radek, 6-3, 6-4; and American Taylor Dent took three sets to eliminate Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic, the 13th seed.

Other notable victories include Morocco's Younes El Aynaoui over Spaniard Feliciano Lopez and Sébastien Grosjean of France over Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan.

One of the most accessible tournaments

The Rogers Cup presented by National Bank is more accessible than ever thanks to the Uniprix Zone, Neighbourhood Day, and Tide & Downy Family Day.

Excellent tickets are still available for all sessions on Centre Court and for the National Bank Court. Tickets start at just $10, with the final weekend starting at just $40. For more information on this tournament or to buy tickets, call (514) 273-1515 (toll free 1-866-338-2685).

MORE NEWS+ HOME