Nadal holds off Nalbandian challenge

Nadal was troubled throughout the first set by the 161st-ranked wildcard,who is on a comeback trail after undergoing hip surgery 10 months ago. “I’m very happy to see him back after important surgery,” Nadal said. “When he’s playing at his best level he makes you feel like you are nothing in the middle of the court.”

The two baseliners traded breaks in the set before wowing the crowd with their breathtaking shot making in the tie-break. After missing a set point at 8-7,Nadal blinked first and allowed Nalbandian to secure the set after an intensely fought final point. Nadal picked up the pace for the final two sets and frustrated his opponent by unleashing some of the brutal shots that helped him to win six Grand Slam titles. “I was a little bit unlucky in the first set,” Nadal said. “I feel good physically.”

Women’s second seed Caroline Wozniacki,who was sick with a virus,outlasted Maria Kirilenko of Russia 1-6 6-1 6-4. Men’s sixth seed Andy Roddick,who had to wait until after Nadal and Wozniacki had completed their victories,then wasted little time in demolishing Ukraine’s Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 6-1 in 55 minutes.

US Open champion Kim Clijsters faced little resistance from Shahar Peer as she walloped the Israeli 6-0 6-1. The 14th seed never faced a break point and led 6-0 3-0 before Peer held serve for the only time in the match.