Rafael Nadal started his eagerly anticipated US Open run with 4 sets win

Rafael Nadal battled back to upset Rinky Hijikata in the No. 2 seed's opening match at the US Open on Tuesday night after dropping the first set.

Slow to start, Nadal stormed back, much to the pleasure of the Arthur Ashe Stadium audience watching in prime time.

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Nadal outlasted Hijikata in a difficult game that contained five match points to earn his 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 triumph.

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Nadal showed no significant lingering effects from the torn abdominal muscle that forced the 22-time Grand Slam champion to withdraw from Wimbledon.

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After improving to 16-0 in the first round of the US Open, Nadal let out some emotion with several fist pumps and waves to the crowd.

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The Association of Tennis Professionals has him ranked third in the world in singles right now (ATP).

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He's held the top spot in the global rankings for 209 weeks, and five times he's come out on top at the end of the year.

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Including a record 14 French Open victories, Nadal has an all-time high of 22 Grand Slam men's singles victories.

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Including 36 Masters wins, he has won 92 ATP singles titles, 63 of which he has done on clay.

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