Slamming the door shut
Nadal dominates Anderson to win his 16th major title
Had it been Roger Federer, had it been Andy Murray, had it been Novak Djokovic — all the ghosts of the U.S. Open, those who came and went, those who never came at all — surely it would not have made a shred of difference. Still, in the end, Rafael Nadal triumphant. Still, in the end, Rafael Nadal rampant, arms splayed in victory, right digit finger raised in a No. 1 exclamation mark.
Because he really is a right-hander, though he plays tennis left. Just another quirk to go along with all the tics.
Because, when he plays like this, who in God’s green acre is going to be beat him? Certainly not South African Kevin Anderson who, in Sunday’s final, didn’t get a single look at a single break point chance. Even Lady Kady, the Dachshund-Chihuahua rescue dog that wife Kelsey carries in her tote bag — though pet canines do get their own guest accreditation for players’ boxes — would be forgiven for turning her head away in horror.
El Nadal lost a mere a mere 15 points in 14 service games. He was 16-for-16 at the net. He won 84 per cent of first serve points and 70 per cent on his second serve. He had just 11 unforced errors.
A serve and volley finish by Nadal on match point, just stylin’.
That’s a third U.S. Open trophy for the 31-year-old Nadal, four years after his last one.
That’s 16 Grand Slam titles, two-forfour on the year. Same as Federer for 2017 but, unlike Federer — who passed on the French Open where the Spaniard struck for La Decima, his 10th conquest on his beloved clay at Roland Garros — Nadal didn’t skip a major.
Nadal is till No. 1 in the world rankings, joined there when the new roll call is released on Monday by compatriot Garbine Muguruza. One & one for Spain.
Vamos Rafa, as they say. And Viva Espana.
A poignant grace note, also, for Nadal’s lifelong coach, Uncle Tony, who first put a racquet in the three-year-old boy’s hand and has been at his nephew’s sides through all the highs, all the lows — knee tendinitis, multiple injuries, recently the wrist a year ago — but decided now that he’s had enough of life on the endless tour road. Tony Nadal will stay home, running operations at Nadal’s tennis academy in Mallorca.
Said Nadal: “I can’t thank him enough for all the things that he did for me. Without him I would never be playing tennis.”
In his on-court comments to the crowd of 27,755 immediately after the straight sets match — 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 — Nadal quite gracefully spoke of the “heartbreak” being experienced by a weekend earthquake in Mexico and the battering progression of Hurricane Irma through the Caribbean and Florida.
“It’s impossible to control natural disasters. All the best for the victims and all the people who are suffering. It’s very sad moments for the world but it is time for be strong.”
Anderson, the 28th seed at Flushing Meadows, was into his maiden Slam final after 31 tries. He was, at 32nd in the world, the lowest ranked men’s player ever to reach at final in Queens since the ATP rankings were initiated in 1973. And he didn’t appear as devastated as the outcome would suggest. But Anderson knows he got lucky in the draw, in the absence and early elimination of top players, and that absolutely no one, not even faithful Lady Kady, expected him to upset Nadal. Although one might have hoped for a bit more resistance.
Poor Anderson. First a ball fell out of his pocket, bringing a chair warning; then he drew a warning for a time violation; then he scraped his knuckles on the cement diving for a shot (didn’t make it) and required a
“I wake up every morning with the passion to go on court and to try to improve things.” RAFAEL NADAL AFTER A THIRD U.S. OPEN TITLE
trainer’s attention. All that wrapped inside the thumping of a match in which he was so painfully outclassed. Even his Howitzer serve went up in smoke, 10 of them to absolutely no purpose.
If not for the blissful expression on Nadal’s face when this match was over — he trails Federer now by just three Slam titles — it might almost have been considered a waste of a fine Sunday afternoon in New York City. It definitely wasn’t the final the tennis world had hoped for and the audience here was almost restive when Anderson drew out points in long rallies.
There wasn’t a hint of support for the underdog, as if the South African — an all-American college player, actually — was somehow to blame for getting to the ultimate match of this Open. Sports can be weird “Few players get that chance, it’s very tough,” the 31-year-old Johannesburg native said afterward. “To step out on court against Rafa tonight, I learned a lot of lessons.”
Nadal had been on that ultimate Slam stage 22 times, though he claimed it’s nowhere as easy as it used to be in his 20s.
Up close, Anderson was in awe of Nadal’s work ethic, his ferocity. “He never goes away. I have seen so many times where he’s maybe down a break and he’s able to play every single point at such a high intensity.’’
At his own press conference, Nadal told reporters not to be fooled by the cool countenance he presented on court. “I was not calm. But all the body language, that is not a positive way. It’s stupid to make it, no? Because it’s going against you, no?
It has been a sweet season for Nadal.
“Of course is a very special year, no? Couple of years without winning Slams, couple of years with problems — 2015, 2016 have been years that I had injuries. And tough ones, in the middle of the season. And 2015 was not injuries, physical injuries. Was mental injuries.” That smile. Pushed to measure his season, to measure himself against Federer, Nadal mostly declined.
“I really don’t think much about these kind of things. As I said before, I do my way. I’m very happy with all the things that are happening to me, win this title again. I have this trophy with me . . .
“We played for the most important things for such a long time . . . So yeah, I feel happy to be part of this rivalry. But at the same time, I played even more matches with Novak than with Roger.”
Unlike his semifinal against the gallant Juan Martin del Potro, where Nadal had to adjust tactics after dropping the opening set, there was no reset required here. Nadal had Anderson at hello, from the first point in the first game to the last Nadal winner two hours and 27 minutes later.
Hard to believe this was the same Nadal who lost to Canadian teenager Denis Shapovalov in the third round of the Rogers Cup less than a month ago.
In the third set, he was unstoppable. Anderson has his best return game of the match at 5-4, straining to extend the affair, but he got no closer to the break than deuce on a Nadal netter. Nadal then rung down the curtain with a 117-m.p.h service winner and a backhand volley into the open court.
Nadal, so clearly exhausted when it was over, if not panting from the match then at least from this part fortnight building up to it.
“I wake up every morning with the passion to go on court and to try to improve things. Probably that’s why I still have chances to compete in this sport and to do it well. “That’s all.” That’s plenty.