NEW YORK, Sept 9, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Unlike at his beloved Roland Garros,
success did not arrive overnight for Rafael Nadal on the unforgiving hard
courts of the US Open, where he surged to within a title of Roger Federer’s
all-time men’s Grand Slam singles record Sunday.
Nadal’s epic victory over Daniil Medvedev secured the Spaniard his fourth
US Open crown, leaving him one shy of the Open era record of five titles
belonging to long-time rival Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors.
But it was not an instant connection between Nadal, his notoriously suspect
knees, and the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.
“I think at the beginning of my career have been some tough moments here,
losing matches,” said Nadal, who failed to reach a single semi-final in his
first five trips to the US Open.
During that span, Nadal would claim at least one singles title at the other
three majors, but it was not until his eighth visit to Flushing Meadows that
he would get his hands on an elusive US Open trophy.
“Since a long time ago, every time that I came here I felt comfortable. I
felt very competitive and fighting for the big things,” Nadal said during his
run to a second US Open title in three years.
“I feel comfortable here, I like the atmosphere, I like the crowd. I feel a
big energy when I am playing in this Arthur Ashe Stadium.”
Nadal’s latest coronation, his 19th Grand Slam title, reinforced the fact
the slower courts of the US Open and his obliging knees have turned New York
into a land of opportunity.
Vanquished opponents this past fortnight struggled to find superlatives
befitting the 33-year-old as he capped one of his greatest Grand Slam years
in thrilling style.
Diego Schwartzman suggested Nadal was “like a lion in the middle of the
jungle” while Matteo Berrettini called him “the greatest fighter ever in this
sport.”
“It’s tough to find words. He’s one of the greatest champions in the
history of our sport. He’s just a machine, a beast on the court,” Medvedev
said.
– Injury misery –
Victory on Sunday moved Nadal to within one Grand Slam title of Federer,
who, at 38, is more than four years older, but the Spaniard downplayed the
importance of catching the Swiss legend.
“Of course, I would love to be the one who achieves more Grand Slams, but I
still sleep very well without being the one who has more Grand Slams,” Nadal
said, with typical humility.
His Grand Slam CV boasts 12 French Opens, four US Open titles, two at
Wimbledon and one at the Australian Open.
His 2008 Wimbledon final triumph over Federer is widely regarded as the
greatest-ever final at the majors.
Along with Federer and Novak Djokovic, the other member of tennis’ “Big
Three”, Nadal has comfortably passed the $100 million prize money barrier.
Tennis has been good for Nadal but he has been just as influential as a key
driver of the sport’s growth.
He won an under-12 regional crown at age eight and by 12 had captured
Spanish and European age-group junior titles.
By 15, he had turned professional and, two years later, won his first match
against Federer.
At 19, he won the 2005 French Open on his debut.
Nadal has Wimbledon crowns in 2008 and 2010, an Australian Open title in
2009 and completed the career Grand Slam in 2010 by defeating Djokovic in the
US Open final, becoming the youngest in the Open era to complete the four-
event career sweep.
Only Nadal and Andre Agassi can say they have a career Grand Slam and an
Olympic men’s singles gold medal, Nadal having claimed his in 2008 at
Beijing.
He has also led Spain to four Davis Cups.
Knee and wrist injuries have taken a toll throughout his career, however,
costing him nine Slam appearances.
After he failed to even reach a Slam semi-final in 2015 and 2016 some
figured his greatest moments were behind him.
But Nadal roared into the 2017 Australian Open final, losing to Federer,
then captured a record 10th French Open crown in June that year, setting the
stage for another title run at the US Open.
Those struggles receded further into distant memories this year as he
reached the semi-finals at all four majors for the first time since 2008, his
five-set win over Medvedev moving him a step closer to history.