In a disappointing 58-minute final, fourth-seeded Mikhail Youzhny thrashed World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in straight sets to win the Chennai Open title on Sunday
Watching Rafael Nadal win just a solitary game in a match is painful, more than anything else. The Spaniard’s image can sometimes consume him.
Playing less than 24 hours after an emotional, intense all-consuming four-hour marathon can take everything out of a man, but Nadal is expected to defy the norm. Almost out of right, the fist pumps, the tireless legs and the demonic forehands are in demand; but even a man of Nadal’s will and tenacity can sometimes succumb to exhaustion.
The top-seed looked completely out of sorts on Sunday. Mikhail Youzhny, by his own admission, had just to keep his game together, to win the Chennai Open final. The fourth seeded Youzhny beat Nadal 6-0, 6-1 in the final of the Chennai Open ATP tennis championship, at the Nungambakkam Tennis Stadium, on Sunday. Nadal had on Saturday beaten Carlos Moya 6-7(3), 7-6(8), 7-6(1) in the semifinals.
The Russian should be applauded for keeping his game together. Playing a tired, exhausted, quality player with nothing but pride driving him could have proved tricky. To the Russian’s credit, he pulled off his shots impeccably. The backhand, which had been lethal all along, was outstanding. He used it to change pace, direction, and pull off difficult slices.
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