ATP US Open 2011 Preview: Rafael Nadal vs. Nicolas Mahut

Rafael Nadal takes on Nicolas Mahut in the second round of the US Open on Arthur Ashe stadium today.

Nadal looked shaky during his opening round win on Tuesday night and the defending champion has much work to do before things start to get serious in the next few days.

Andrey Golubev came into their night match having lost 18 straight matches earlier in the year yet he was the one dictating for much of the encounter and really should have won both the second and third sets.

Nadal needs to get his backhand deeper as a more confident player would pick him off right now. Luckily for him, Mahut is not that man. The Frenchman is a serve-volley exponent with a decent forehand but his game plays right into the hands of Nadal who will happy sit back, counter-punch and rip passing shots beyond him all day.

After Djokovic’s masterclass on Arthur Ashe stadium last night, Nadal will be determined to put a message out there that he’s still right in contention.