Rafael Nadal triumphs at the U.S. Open by holding off Novak Djokovic for a four-set win on Monday. Despite not playing the Australian Open at the beginning of 2013, Nadal will finish the season with two Grand Slam titles.
Rafael Nadal captured his second U.S. Open title by defeating Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Monday night. Nadal survived a wild, back-and-forth second set en route to victory after three hours and 21 minutes.
The world No. 1 found his range in set two, firing 15 winners–more than double Nadal’s total. Djokovic missed two break-point opportunities at 1-0, but he really sank his teeth into the match when he finally broke Nadal at 3-2.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdjNghcCNPU]
It hardly mattered when Djokovic donated his own serve one game later, because arguably the best returner in tennis was in rare form even by his standards. Nadal had been broken only once in the entire tournament prior to the final, but he lost his serve three times to Djokovic. All three breaks came in succession: at 2-3, 3-4, and again in the first game of the third set.
The third, however, ultimately provided some of the most tense drama of the tennis year. Nadal fought off one break point at 0-2 to stay within striking distance before getting the break back at 2-3. That set the stage for the turning point of the match–Nadal’s service game at 4-4. The second-ranked Spaniard dug out of a 0-40 hole, saving break points with a forehand winner, a netted Djokovic forehand, and an ace. Nadal promptly broke one game later to steal the set from just about out of nowhere, clinching it with a heavy forehand.
Perhaps stunned by the quick turn of events, Djokovic could not recover for the fourth. New York’s top seed watched a Nadal forehand fly past him on break point at 0-1 and from there it was all over. Nadal made only three unforced errors in set four and lost a mere three points in his last three service games. He capitalized on his first championship point at 5-1, 40-15 when a Djokovic forehand caught the tape.
It is Nadal’s second U.S. Open title and first since 2010. The former and likely soon-to-be world No. 1 now owns 13 Grand Slam titles, trailing only Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14). Djokovic, meanwhile, is now 6-6 lifetime in major finals.
last game of the match:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYvlQnJW32g]
I admit, I was a coward who didn’t leave the back of the couch until I knew Rafa won. I signed up for tennis channel and watched the whole match last night from 11:30 PM to 3:30 AM. (I even went to work at 9!)
I LOVE the 3rd set. It’s classic Rafa. He fought and fought and fought some more. I’m glad people start calling him the greatest competitor of the sport. I think that’s absolutely true. Yes, Ricky, the forehand DTL shot at 0-40 and 4-4 was HUGE. He didn’t tighten up due to nerves. He swung freely and hit that huge winner. The overhead smash to hold that game was also spectacular. He deserved a standing o for that game and the next game. He has the nerves of steel and the never-say-die attitude that can be very demoralizing to his opponents.
I don’t think Djoker “gave up” in the 4th. I think he’s still thinking about the 3rd set so his focus wasn’t as sharp in the 4th. All the UFE came from his drifting attention. SI’s Jon Wertheim called him king of the hard courts. That has to be tough to swallow for Djoker.
Thanks for posting all the links. I enjoy reading them.
Oops, I meant to say Jon Wertheim called Rafa “king of the hard courts”.
I agree with JCKNY, I dont think Djokovic ‘gave up’ on the match but he had stopped believing he was going to win. He came out ready to fight in the 4th but the cumulative effect of losing the 4-4 battle in the 3rd and Rafa breaking him to take the set was too much for him: he started to unravel and Rafa pounced like a panther who has smelt blood.
I don’t understand the discussion about Rafa playing or not playing those two tournaments. Then there is the talk about the penalty thing.
So is Rafa playing in Beijing at the China Open?
I didn’t know about the penalty taking away his points from Vina Del Mar.
nativenewyorker7:@September 13, 2013 at 3:33 am
In June, Rafa confirmed to play at the China Open in Beijing. He hasn’t withdrawn.
—Spanish Tennis King Rafael Nadal Back In Beijing
June 8, 2013
China Open organizers today confirmed the participation of 2013 Roland Garros finalist and 2005 China Open Champion Rafael Nadal at this year’s tournament, making his first appearance in Beijing in four years.
The Spaniard is the first of many ATP World Tour players confirmed to play, and Beijing remains a special place for Nadal, after his 2008 Beijing Olympic success helping him to complete the rare achievement of a “career golden slam”.
“Rafa was the 2005 China Open champion and has always been in close relationship with our tournament. It is so gratifying to see him back on court in great form and we look forward to welcoming him back in Beijing!” said Alfred Zhang, China Open Tournament Director.—
http://www.chinaopen.com.cn/en/news/2013-06-08/1530559.shtml
augusta,
Thanks for this confirmation about Rafa playing at the China Open. So this is the place where he can get the #1 ranking back.
I don’t know whether this article has been posted here or not, but this is the best article about Rafa after his US Open win IMO.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/news/20130910/rafael-nadal-novak-djokovic-us-open-final/?sct=tn_wr_a1
JCKNY,
That really was an exceptional article. It gave me even more insight into what makes Rafa so special. As was said, it’s how he plays. It’s his style. It’s like no one else. We could see the positive body language as he fought like a man possessed in that third set. We could feel his passion.
I never liked Wilander because of comments he has made about Rafa in the past, but this time he finally got it right. So did Becker. Rafa is at his best when he seems to be down and out, when his back is against the wall. That’s when he really comes to life. I can feel his love for this sport. I thought he had lost that back in 2011 when he was struggling. But whatever he was going through back then, he found the joy again in playing tennis.
We are really lucky that he did!
Thanks for putting up the link! 🙂
You’re welcome. I’ve been staying late reading tons of articles. I enjoy every one but this one is the best written, in my opinion. I want to save it but can’t. 🙁
@Ricky
Enjoyed reading the discussion, ta 🙂
Does CN write for Bleacher? I’ve seen the name somewhere.
@Ricky
The round table discussion is a great format.
A bit like eavesdropping on a private meeting 😉
ed,
Yes, I really did like the format. We can get different opinions from a variety of people.
JCKNY: Agreed. That SI article says it all. Fulsome praise indeed.
I’m just loving the way so many big names in tennis have have finally gotten around to acknowledging the brilliance of Rafa after years of lukewarm praise – or even sometimes downright dismissive criticism ?
@ricky, thanks for the link. Enjoyed reading the disccussion you were involved in at SI 🙂 Ricky’s analysis always has ‘originality’ and I have always liked that.
Ed and NNY , wow ! you two are quite fortunate. Thank you for summarizing those eras and how your favorites changed over time 🙂
Could you tell me a little about rosewall and laver’s games? Have not seen much of their tennis except for a few small blurred clips ! Plus, what are your opinions on the grass court speed in the laver era as compared to now? Do you think the difference is big or its somewhat hyped up too?
Thx for the info ed (September 12, 2013 at 10:08 pm).
As I recall it, you also chickened out, didn’t ya? 😉
You can read the US Open final match report in verse! It’s great!
Rafael Nadal: The Ultimate Point Miester
http://rafaelnadalfans.com/2013/09/12/rafael-nadal-the-ultimate-point-miester/
An excerpt:
—No one plays points like Rafa Nadal.
He’s a man with a racket obsessed with the ball.
His ability to focus is second to none
whether he’s ahead in the score or under the gun.—
“I don’t know about you but I am slowly becoming a fan of Rafa. I have always been impressed by him of course but I naively concluded that his game was built on muscle.
The closer I look the more I notice the attention to detail. I first noticed it early in this year’s US Open. To be a contender Rafa had to serve well. He did that when he won in 2010 but it put too much strain on his knees, so naturally I wondered whether he would have an answer this time. It turns out that he does. His answer is to trade pace for spin, saving his knees but creating big problems for his opponents. The extra spin is most obvious on TV in his swinging slice serve. The amount of movement he got looked like he was hitting a forehand for his serve and I liked it. The result of these changes is that in the final we saw that Rafa is currently the player that is better at solving the big problems. He backed up everything we have seen throughout 2013 to cement his claim as the best player of the year.
Rafa clearly put in diligent study, tennis R&D, during his seven months out exploring ways to compete with his obvious limitations. He used the injuries to improve his technique and strategy. Now that he is back on tour he is putting the R&D to work and taking the theory and molding it into a polished product.”
http://www.tennisfrontier.com/blogs/colin-chambers/us-open-2013-review-mens-final-solving-problems/
This is the best read I have come across on how Rafa has improved his game and why. This is not the usual praise-singing or GOAT debate, this is solid analysis from someone who clearly was never a fan of Rafa before!
Agree. I read that last night and liked it. I’m glad more people notice Rafa’s problem solving ability. USA Today has an article on that too. The Atlantic calls him Leonardo da Vinci of tennis. In the past, everybody only looked at Rafa’s muscle and assumed his games were all power and spins. Rafa has a lot more intangibles than people appreciate.
Apologies if this ATP clip has already been put up but having just watched it I wanted to share it with anybody who may have missed it.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/pvkb25q
I just cant get enough of reliving that amazing victory or of marvelling at the miracle of his comeback. What struck me anew was the look of wonderment and joy on his face both during the ceremony and in all the later interviews. I also found the moment at the net, when he sank his head on Nole’s shoulder, very touching.
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/09/nadal-i-needed-create-confusion-vs-djokovic/49211/#.Ujsb_j9RCDc
“In an interview with PBS’ Charlie Rose, U.S. Open champion Rafael Nadal says that when he faces world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, he must create confusion by changing direction and hitting his forehand to Djokovic’s forehand rather than consistently playing his cross-court forehand to the Serbian’s two-handed backhand.”
Yes Rafa, Djoker looked totally confused in that 4th set…………..
Vamosrafa@ Sept 14, 10:13 am
I do apologise. I have only just seen your questions about Rosewall, Laver, and grass speed. The system of grouping replies under the specific point works well for continuity of subject matter but one runs the risk of missing a response because it is out of time/date sequence – particularly if you are ‘away from your desk’ for any length of time!
I will go back down memory lane and try to convey what it was like to watch Rosewall in his heyday in a day or two. I’ll leave it to NNY to wax lyrical about Laver 😉
PS: I’m a bit pressed for time this week but I’ll give you a nod on an active thread to alert you, OK.
Shirling: No way I chickened out for the final. You are thinking of one of the matches I missed when sleep deprivation took its toll.
I was glued to the tele every minute of the way even though I was so nervous I kept forgetting to breath and was tempted to get behind Deucy’s sofa a lot of the time. Cigarette consumption rocketed sky high too 🙁