Rafael Nadal overcomes hitting himself in face with own racket to beat Fabio Fognini in US Open second round

Rafael Nadal defeated Fabio Fognini in the second round

of the US Open after accidently smacking himself in the

face with his own racket. On Thursday night in Arthur Ashe Stadium,

the 36-year-old overcame a sluggish start to defeat Fognini over four sets,

2-6 6-4 6-2 6-1. But the 22-time grand slam champion was left bloodied during

a tense moment in the set that was to be the decisive one.

Nadal's racket accidentally struck the Spaniard in the face

as he stretched out to return a backhand to Fognini.

Immediately after, Nadal grabbed his nose and dropped his racket,