US Open 2013: Rafael Nadal drops just three games in match against Rogerio Dutra Silva
The Spaniard is the second seed
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Your support makes all the difference.Rafael Nadal made short work of Rogerio Dutra Silva to race into the third round of the US Open.
The Spaniard dropped just three games in a one-sided 6-2 6-1 6-0 victory over the Brazilian qualifier in the final match of the night on Arthur Ashe, the fewest games he has ever lost in a grand slam match on hard courts.
The victory, which took only an hour and 32 minutes, extended Nadal's winning record on hard courts this season to 17-0.
Dutra Silva recovered from 0-40 to hold in the first game of the match, but that was the only time he was ahead as Nadal broke serve in the third game and again in the seventh.
The games were tighter than the scoreline suggested but, like so many players against Nadal, Dutra Silva was finding that winning the final point was a different matter.
The second set was a case in point and the Brazilian, ranked 134 in the world, finished it on a low note with a double fault.
Nadal really showed what he could do in the third set, with the highlight a wonderful lob to break the Dutra Silva serve yet again for 4-0.
The Spaniard was happy with his performance, saying: "I was solid with my serve, which is always very important on this court.
"I played well. I started a little bit slow but as the match went on I felt I was playing better and better. To have the chance to play in the night session again after two years is great."
Next up for Nadal is Croatia's Ivan Dodig, who beat the Spaniard the last time they met in Montreal two years ago.
Nadal said: "He's a tough player. I have not a good memory of playing against him in Montreal two years ago. It was a very tough match.
"He's had already two great wins over (Fernando) Verdasco and (Nikolay) Davydenko. He's a dangerous player. I have to be playing very well and that's what I'm going to try to do."
PA
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