NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal’s first match since capturing the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics was hardly a cakewalk.Bjorn Phau, a German qualifier ranked No. 136, gave the world’s No. 1 player all he could handle before Nadal pulled out a 7-6 (4), 6-3, 7-6 (4) first-round U.S. Open victory in 2 hours, 59 minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.“I didn’t play with the normal intensity that I play with,” said the 22-year-old Nadal, who made 35 unforced errors and hit 37 winners. “The important thing is finally win. I know I am playing well because I did play very well the last few months. Probably I am tired.”
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