2010 U.S. Open First Round Result: Rafael Nadal Wins, Excruciatingly

In a match destined to annoy from the outset thanks to a late start time, top-seeded Rafael Nadal let Russia’s Teymuraz Gabashvili hang around entirely too long, entirely to spite patient U.S. Open viewing audiences eager to move on to Wozniacki-Gullickson. The two first sets went to tiebreaks before Nadal deigned to win the third outright, for a final score of 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3. The next scrub to cross his path will be Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.

For more U.S. Open coverage, visit SB Nation’s Daily Forehand.