Rafael Nadal becomes first man to win under the roof in US Open as he eases past Andreas Seppi in straight sets 

A second round victory for Rafael Nadal at the US Open may normally be regarded as routine.

But this will be a night long remembered for the Spaniard as he became the first player to win a match under the new Arthur Ashe Stadium roof, beating Italian Andreas Seppi 6-0, 7-5, 6-1.

Nadal was in cruise control as he clinched the first set without dropping a game but then had to contend with a moment of history midway through the second set when rain started to fall at 3-3, forcing the roof to close for the first time. 

Rafael Nadal celebrates after winning his second-round match at the US Open in straight sets

It was the first match to be played under a roof at the US Open after rain fell in the second set

In a one-sided match Nadal eased past Italian Andreas Seppi, dropping just six games

Nadal said: 'It is great to be the first player to play with the roof closed on the competition, because I was the first player to hit in the centre court [in practice] with the roof closed.

'[I am] just happy. The difference is not much. [There is] no big difference, With the roof open there is no wind at all, so it is not a big change.

'And the roof is so high you don't feel you are closed. That's my feeling. Today I didn't feel the change.'

The roof took just five minutes to close and it did not interrupt Nadal's rhythm as he went on to seal victory and a place in the third round in just two hours and 18 minutes.

Nadal attempted to hit the closed roof of the 23,771-capacity court with a ball after the match but did not succeed. He can be satisfied, however, with his performance as he set up a last-32 clash with Russian Andrey Kuznetsov. 

The roof took just five minutes to close and it did not interrupt Nadal's rhythm

Even Nadal took time to watch the roof close as he waited for the resumption of play

The Spanish fourth-seed watches the ball onto his racket during the comfortable win

Nadal claimed the roof did not change conditions, and he certainly seemed untroubled

Nadal said: 'Every round is important. Every point is important. Today was a good win.

'I feel that I played a little bit more aggressive than the first round. I feel myself better than in the first round.

'That's always a positive thing, to feel you are improving a little but during the event. That's the way I need to keep improving.

'The next round is a very tough opponent. I know him well. I played him this year at the beginning of the season in Doha.

'He is an aggressive player, he has a lot of big shots from the baseline and he is very dangerous.

'I need to improve, playing longer, playing higher, changing speeds, changing the rhythm of the ball with the slice and then every time I need to hit more forehand winners.'

Nadal will now face Russian world No 47 Andrey Kuznetsov in the third round