Australian Open 2012: Nadal Takes Second Set, Evens Match At Set Apiece

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal started off the second set by breaking each other’s serve.

With Nadal serving at 1-1, a stat appeared on the screen. The player who won the first set in the last 17 of 19 meetings had won the match between the two former World No.1s. Nadal served out the game with a serve out wide to Federer’s backhand to bring him back on serve and up 2-1.

The most Federer had to move on his serve was to finish off the game with an easy floater just inside the service line which he drilled cross court with his forehand. 2-2.

The next game brought some short rallies, some long rallies and look of disgusts from both players’ faces as they pushed the game to 40-all. Nadal converted on his serve, winning the game on his advantage when Federer missed long. 3-2 Nadal.

An epic Nadal-Federer moment came with Nadal up 30-love on Federer’s serve. Running across the baseline of the court, Federer came in for a backhand volley that he hit in an extreme cross court angle to the open right side of the court. Nadal scurried across the court and ripped a forehand past a flailing Federer. Three points later, he passed Federer at the net again to break Federer’s serve. 4-2 Nadal.

With a cross court winner and his pace, Nadal held on to his serve. 5-2 Nadal.

Then. Fireworks.

No literally. In honor of Aussie Day, the match took a 10-minute break to shoot of their fireworks display. They held the fireworks off until that point in the match.

My tennis writing is no match for fireworks so we’ll leave it at, Nadal breezed through the next game to take the set, 6-2.