Healthy year a bigger prize for Nadal than title
Up against South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in the final, former world No 1 a win away from third title
Rafael Nadal moved one win away from a third US Open title and 16th Grand Slam crown Friday when he defeated weary Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, the 2010 and 2013 champion in New York, will be playing in his 23rd Slam final and third this year, looking to add the US title to his record 10th French Open.
In Sunday’s final, the world number one will face 32ndranked Kevin Anderson, the first South African in the championship match in 52 years.
Anderson reached his maiden final at the Majors by beating 12th-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.
For 2009 champion Del Potro, Friday’s match was one too many as the physical and emotional toll of seeing off Roger Federer in four sets in the previous round left him spent.
“I have had an amazing season after some tough moments with injuries in recent years,” said Nadal, who started 2017 by finishing runner-up to Federer in Australia.
“It’s a very emotional year for me. I am in the final again and get the chance to fight for another title which is very important.”
Nadal said the key to Friday’s win was a change of tactics after the first set.
“I played too much to his backhand and I felt he was waiting for me there,” said Nadal after his 15th successive Grand Slam semi-final win.
“I changed it and it worked. I made him move more and make it all more unpredictable.”
Nadal finished with 45 winners and 20 unforced errors to Del Potro’s 23 and 40.
Despite a 4-0 winning record over Anderson, Nadal said he will not underestimate his opponent on Sunday.
I have had an amazing season ...It’s a very emotional year for me. I am in the final again and the chance to fight for another title which is very important I’m angry to lose a chance like this, but maybe tomorrow I will be calm and see how big the tournament was for me. NADAL, WHO WON HIS 10TH FRENCH OPEN CROWN IN JUNE, HAS REACHED THREE SLAM FINALS FOR THE FIRST SEASON SINCE 2011.
World number one Rafael Nadal, nagged for years by knee injuries but enjoying a stellar season, already has a prize more treasured than another Grand Slam title --- a healthy campaign chasing them.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, who ousted Juan Martin del Potro on Friday to reach Sunday’s US Open final, said the year he has enjoyed has brought a happiness no Slam crown can match after past seasons of misery unable to unleash his best efforts.
“For me, more than winning Grand Slams or not --- of course, if I win, I will be more happy -- but is about being healthy and feeling well and competitive,” Nadal said. “That’s already happened in the whole season. So that’s the most important thing for me.”
Nadal seeks his third US Open title after 2010 and 2013 and his 16th career Major when he faces South African 28th seed Kevin Anderson.
“What is more important, more than winning Slams, is to be happy,” Nadal said. “I am happy if I am healthy and happy if I feel competitive most of the weeks I’m playing and that’s what happened this year.
“I am very happy to win Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Roland Garros. I am very happy to be in the final here in the US Open... and I am going to fight to win another title here. But still, a great season for me.”
Nadal, who lost to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final but won his 10th French Open crown in June, has reached three Slam finals for the first season since 2011.
He hasn’t won multiple Slams in a season since 2013, but he did thump del Potro for his 15th consecutive Slam semi-final triumph, the last loss coming to del Potro in the South American’s 2009 US Open championship run.
“Important day for me. Important victory against a great opponent,” Nadal said.
“I woke up today and said to myself, ‘Today is the day that I’ll play. I need to play with the right energy, and I need to increase the level of my game.’
“A lot of times I know that and it didn’t happen, but today it happened.” Nadal said that sometimes the only way to get better is to win matches, victories building the final 20 to 30% he needs to maximize his potent game.
“You need to win matches,” Nadal said. “If you practice well and you feel yourself well, you have more chances to win matches in the tournaments.
“But this 20, 30%, that’s a big difference. You only make this winning matches, because it’s about confidence. It’s about things that when you are on court comes automatic.”