admin(7/4), 6-4, 6-3.
Defending champion Nadal, who before this year had only lost once in 53 matches at Roland Garros, dropped the opening set of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career as Brands, the world number 59, unleashed a barrage of attacks off both sides to leave the third seed reeling.
Brands, who had lost all four of his previous first round matches in Paris, also led 3/0 in the second set tie-breaker as he appeared poised to deliver the first defeat of a men’s champion in the opening round in tournament history.
But Nadal, who arrived in Paris having won six titles in eight finals since his return from a seven-month injury lay-off, eventually found his rhythm to steady the ship as the 25-year-old Brands’ big-hitting gameplan ran out of firepower.
“Sometimes when you feel you are not hitting a bad shot and every time comes back a bomb and a winner from the beginning, sometimes that’s frustrating,” admitted Nadal.
“He decided to hit every ball as hard as he could. But if it was two sets to love, I don’t say that I will not have chances, because I always hope that there are chances and I will keep fighting, but you have to play under a lot of pressure the rest of the match.”
Roland Garros is Nadal’s first Grand Slam since his second round exit at Wimbledon last year led to his lengthy absence to rest his suspect left knee.
“I find myself in a state of affairs that nobody, only few months back, any of my team could ever have dreamed of. That’s why I’m tasting every moment,” he said.
“What’s happened is behind me. Each passing day is a little less tension, and I think I have done more than I could possibly have dreamt about doing only a few months back.”
At the start on Monday, Brands looked to have taken inspiration from Robin Soderling, the only man to beat Nadal in Paris four years ago, and Lukas Rosol, who dumped the Spaniard out of Wimbledon last year.
He unleashed a barrage of super-charged winners, throwing caution to the cold Paris wind.
Nadal was clearly rattled and a double fault gave the German a break for 5-4 in the opener and the set was wrapped up with a down-the-line winner.
It was only the 15th set Nadal had lost in his Roland Garros career.
Brands continued his fearless assault in the second set, taking a 3/0 lead in the tie-breaker which could have been 4/2 had he not blundered with a simple backhand volley.
That miss proved the turning point and Nadal didn’t give him another chance as he took the breaker to level the tie at a set apiece.
The Spaniard was quickly 2-0 ahead in the third set, saved a break point in the eighth before a brutal forehand winner gave him a two sets to one lead.
A break in the opening game of the fourth set gave Nadal the edge he needed and the tie was his when Brands went wide with a weary forehand.
Brands admitted his missed volley at 3/2 in the tiebreak had been crucial to the outcome.“I was losing a little bit concentration after the tiebreak. It was really tough for me because he broke me early in the set, and then I had to come back always,” he said. — AFP.
Online Reporter