Nadal rolls into third round under new US Open roof

Rafael Nadal glided 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. Twotime champion Nadal, seeded fourth, defeated Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1 to book a meeting with Russian Andrey Kuznetsov for a place in the round of 16. The new $150 million roof was called into action for the first time when light rain began falling in the second set. The giant structure took only a few moments to close before Nadal and Seppi resumed their match beneath it. “Play was suspended at 10:38pm (0238GMT) and play resumed at 10:46 (0246GMT) total suspension of play was 7 minutes and 22 seconds,” said a statement by the US Tennis Association (USTA). “The roof closed in 5 minutes and 35 seconds. The closing occurred prior to Nadal serving at 3-3 in the second set. Nadal won the first set 6-0. “Rafael Nadal has the distinction of hitting the first practice and match ball under a closed roof in Arthur Ashe Stadium.” “It’s great to be the first player to play with the roof closed, on the competition, because I was the first player to hit in the center court with the roof closed,” said Nadal, who found “no big difference” on the court 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. It’s great. It’s an unbelievable, unbelievable court.”