Nadal wins 19th Grand Slam title in US Open thriller – TheNigerialawyer

Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title in
thrilling fashion on Sunday by winning the US Open final,
outlasting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to
seize his fourth crown in New York.

The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander moved one shy of Roger
Federer’s all-time men’s record 20 Grand Slam triumphs and became
the second-oldest New York champion in the Open era after Ken
Rosewall in 1970 at age 35.

World number two Nadal took the top prize of $3.85 million at
Arthur Ashe Stadium and added to his US Open trophy haul from 2010,
2013 and 2017.

Nadal, who was in his fifth US Open championship match and 27th
Grand Slam final, is the first man to claim five major titles after
turning 30.

But it took a supreme effort from the Spanish maestro, who
nearly became the first player to drop the final after leading by
two sets since Frederick Schroeder in 1949.

Nadal, who rose to 22-12 in five-set matches, has dropped only
one Grand Slam match out of more than 200 when he has won the first
two sets, the loss coming at the hands of Italy’s Fabio Fognini in
the 2015 US Open third round.

At four hours and 50 minutes, the match finished four minutes
shy of equaling the longest final in US Open history from Mats
Wilander’s 1988 win and Andy Murray’s 2012 title.

It was the second Slam title of the year for Nadal after taking
his 12th French Open crown in June.

In addition to reaching the brink of Federer’s mark, Nadal moved
one shy of the Open era record five US Open titles won by Federer,
Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras.

Nadal, who won his only prior meeting with Medvedev in last
month’s Montreal final, seldom looked threatened after being broken
early in the match.

The Spaniard stretched his win streak over Russians to 20
matches since losing to Nikolay Davydenko in the 2011 Doha
semi-finals.

Fifth seed Medvedev, 23, battled throughout his first Grand Slam
final but could not become the youngest men’s Grand Slam champion
since Juan Martin del Potro at the 2009 US Open, falling to 0-5 in
five-set matches.

Medvedev, who saw his career-best 12-match win streak snapped,
would have been the first Russian to win a Grand Slam title since
Marat Safin at the 2005 Australian Open and the first Russian to
win the US Open since Safin in 2000.

At 6-foot-6 (1.98m), Medvedev also would have matched Marin
Cilic and del Potro as the tallest champion in US Open history.

– Electric fifth set –
Nadal saved a break point in the second game of the fourth set when
Medvedev netted a backhand and a huge Nadal chant roared from the
stands.

Medvedev denied Nadal on two break chances in the fifth game as
the tension built. Then Nadal was broken in the 10th game to drop
the set, Medvedev blasting a backhand return winner to complete a
five-point run to force a fifth set.

Nadal battled through the second game of the final set, denying
three Medvedev break chances to hold.

Nadal fired a backhand volley winner to break Medvedev for a 3-2
lead, stretching to reach the Russian’s drop volley and flicking a
winner that brought a roar from the crowd.

Chants of “Ra-fa” echoed through the stadium as he held to 4-2
and Medvedev sent an overhead smash beyond the baseline to hand the
Spaniard a break for a 5-2 edge.

Nadal served for the match but Medvedev took a break to 5-3 when
umpire Ali Nili issued Nadal a time violation for his first serve
and the Spaniard sent his second serve long, the crowd booing Nili
for his violation call.

Nadal had two break and match points in the ninth game, but
Medvedev fired a backhand winner and Nadal netted a forehand return
as the Russian held to 5-4 and the drama intensified.

Again serving for the match, Nadal rescued a break point then
hit a forehand drop volley for his third match point chance and
took the victory when Medvedev sent a forehand return long.

Nadal screamed and fell to the court on his back after the epic
showdown.

This year’s US Open set an all-time attendance record with
737,872 fans watching over the Flushing Meadows fortnight.

AFP.

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