Rafael Nadal encouraged by strengthening wrist after breezing through US Open first round
Tuesday 30 August 2016 07:08, UK
Rafael Nadal says confidence in his wrist is growing after he bruised past Denis Istomin 6-1 6-4 6-2 in the US Open first round.
Nadal played with his troublesome left wrist heavily bandaged and, while he seemed unrestricted, hitting 14 of his 21 winners off the forehand, the 30-year-old said he still lacks power on that side.
"I am hitting very well in the backhand, but it's true that I need time with the forehand," Nadal said.
"I need confidence and I need to keep practicing the forehand. It's not easy to go two-and-a-half months out of competition in the middle of the season without hitting a forehand.
"I need to have the confidence again with my wrist. That is coming, because I feel the wrist much better, and every day feel that the wrist is a little bit better.
"That's a very important thing for me. The most important thing."
The Spaniard will now face Andreas Seppi in the second round at Flushing Meadows after the Italian overcame Frenchman Stephane Robert.
