Ailing Nadal scores thrilling three-set win over Fish

London: A sickly Rafa Nadal was pushed to the limit by Mardy Fish in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Sunday before joining great rival and defending champion Roger Federer at the top of Group B. The Spaniard, playing his first competitive match after a month long lay-off, needed nearly three hours and a rush to the toilet because of a “terrible stomach” to subdue the American tournament debutant, winning a late-night thriller 6-2, 3-6, 7-6. Nadal had to rely on his endless reserves of fighting spirit to scrape past Fish. “The third set was a bit crazy,” the 25-year-old told reporters. “I felt very bad from the stomach since the beginning of the third. I was seriously really lucky for the victory.” [caption id=“attachment_135579” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Rafael Nadal receives medical help before his first round match against American Mardy Fish during the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Sunday. Julian Finney/Getty Images”]  [/caption] Asked what the problem was, Nadal said it was a mystery. “I ate pasta and salmon at the hotel before the match, nothing strange, nothing unusual,” said Nadal who will face Federer in their eagerly-anticipated Group B match on Tuesday. “I am worried about getting better for practise tomorrow.” Fish, the only one of the eight-man field never to have played in the season-ender, made a slow start, dropping his opening service game to hand Nadal the initiative. Nadal sealed the opening set in 34 minutes in front of a 17,500 capacity crowd watching on in the dimly lit arena but he was rocked by an opponent playing some electrifying tennis. Fish, who cracked the world’s top 10 for the first time this year, let rip with some punishing forehands and displayed some exquisite touches at the net as he outplayed the 10-times major winner in the second set. He squandered four set points at 2-5 on the Nadal serve but a clinical serve and volley in the next game set up a decider. Nadal appeared to have regained control when he moved 2-0 ahead in the decider but suddenly left the arena for a toilet break, leaving Fish standing alone with his thoughts for two minutes despite it not being a changeover. While there were a few slow hand claps from the crowd, Fish was not disputing Nadal’s call of nature. “I just assumed that he wasn’t feeling well. We’ve all been there,” the 29-year-old said. “I didn’t think he was trying to ice me or anything. I have a ton of respect for him.” The match swung in Fish’s favour when Nadal returned as the Californian reeled off the next three games before he blew his advantage by losing serve to love. Perspiring heavily, Nadal was stretched again in the next game, surviving a break point when the attack-minded Fish wafted a forehand long. Fish, who racked up 35 winners during a thrilling contest, saved two match points at 4-5 but after taking the match into a tiebreak he faltered. Nadal moved 4-1 ahead and when another three match points arrived he made no mistake, sealing victory when a leaping Fish netted a high backhand volley. World number one Novak Djokovic begins on Monday with a Group A clash against Czech Tomas Berdych after home favourite Andy Murray takes on Spain’s David Ferrer. Nadal terms Noah’s doping comments stupid Meanwhile, Nadal branded comments made by former French tennis player Yannick Noah about doping as “stupid” on Sunday, saying they were the words of a “kid”. In an interview in French newspaper Le Monde, Noah said the best way to combat doping was to legalise the use of drugs and also appeared to accuse Spanish sport in particular of using “magic potions”. Asked about Noah’s comments, Nadal after beating Fish despite an upset stomach, was clearly angry. “What can I say? That’s going to be difficult to explain what I feel in English,” the 25-year-old 10-times Grand Slam champion told reporters. “What he said is completely stupid and he knows better than nobody. To say that today is a totally stupid thing because you know how many anti-doping controls we are having during all the season year by year. “So, in my opinion, his article, what he wrote, was from a kid. And when one kid say something, is not painful for us. So that’s what I feel. “I don’t know how to say in English, but especially I think that’s worse for France. Is worse for his country than for our country, in my opinion, because the image of the country when one guy, important guy like him, says that, is terrible.” Noah, the 1983 French Open champion, caused controversy when he spoke out in Le Monde on Saturday, saying: “Let’s stop the hypocrisy. The best attitude to adopt is to accept doping. Then everyone will have the magic potion.” His comments drew scorn from France’s sports minister. David Douillet, an Olympic judo champion, responded by telling France 2 TV that the comments were “serious and irresponsible”. Spain’s Olympic Committee president Alejandro Blanco said: “It is difficult for ignorant people to understand the boom of Spanish sport. It is hard work that has been the key to success.” Reuters