US Open: Great to be first player to play with roof closed, says Nadal

Rafael Nadal advanced into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as smoothly as the new roof over Arthur Ashe stadium slid shut for the first time during a match

New York: Rafael Nadal advanced into the third round of the US Open on Wednesday as smoothly as the new roof over Arthur Ashe stadium slid shut for the first time during a match.

Rafael Nadal

Two-time champion Nadal, seeded fourth, defeated Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1. The new $150 million roof was called into action for the first time when light rain began falling in the second set.

Rafael Nadal has the distinction of hitting the first practice and match ball under a closed roof. Nadal was delighted with the distinction. "It's great to be the first player to play with the roof closed.

"With the roof open there is no wind at all, so it's not a big change. And the roof is so high you don't feel that you are closed. I didn't feel the change."

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