Rafa crushes Anderson for sweet 16th In hour of glory, Nadal reflects on long road taken
Nadal described the year 2017 as “one of the best of his career” on Sunday after winning a third US Open and 16th Grand Slam.
World No 1 Nadal defeated South Africa’s world No 32 Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in a brutally one-sided final during which he did not face a break point.
Nadal also claimed an unprecedented 10th French Open in June after finishing runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open.
“In terms of results, this has been one of the best seasons of my career, of course,” Nadal admitted of a year in which he won at least two Slams for the fourth time in his career.
Had he gotten the better of Gilles Muller at Wimbledon, where he lost the final set of his fourthround clash 15-13, the year might have been more memorable.
“I have been winning titles, playing three finals of Grand Slams, so that’s a lot. That’s so difficult. The other Slam that I was not in the final, I lost the match 15-13 in the fifth to be in quarters.
“So was very competitive year for me. And on clay, I won almost every match. Of course is an emotional season because I have been through tough moments in terms of injuries.”
Nadal’s win was the latest chapter in an epic story of domination by the sport’s superstars.
From Wimbledon in 2003, an incredible 53 of 58 Slams have now been claimed by just five men --- Federer (19), Nadal (16), Novak Djokovic (12) and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka with three apiece.
Only Andy Roddick, Gaston Gaudio, Marat Safin, Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic have broken the spell.
“We are are in an era that is not nice to say, because I’m part of it, but we are in an era that some players make incredible things in this sport,” said Nadal.
“It’s difficult to win a lot of titles. We should be very happy. Probably even Roger and me and Novak, much more than we ever dreamed.”
To hammer home their enduring appeal and dominance, Federer and Nadal shared the four Slams in 2017 --- Federer winning the Australian Open before capturing a record eighth Wimbledon.
Despite his success, catching the 19 Majors of Federer is not particularly high on Nadal’s list of priorities. “I really never thought much about that. I just do my way. He does his way. Let’s see when we finish,” he said.
“I have 16. So three is big difference. I really don’t think much about these kind of things.
“Well done for Roger that he is having an amazing season, too, and well done for me because I’m having a great season, too.
“Tennis is not all about the Grand Slams, so there are tournaments to come and I’m excited about this last part of the season.”
It’s all a far cry from the end of last year when Nadal was ranked at nine in the world and Federer was 16. It was also a 2016 season that saw the injury-hobbled Nadal lose in the first round at the Australian Open, withdraw after two rounds of the French with a wrist problem, skip Wimbledon and exit US Open in the last 16.
US OPEN Spaniard brushes aside Kevin Anderson for third title at Flushing Meadows and 16th Slam Probably without him (Toni Nadal) I’ll never be playing tennis. I’m thankful I had somebody like him pushing me all the time.
Nadal reflected on his roots as a child prodigy from the island of Mallorca and on the influence of his uncle Toni on Sunday after winning the US Open title.
The 31-year-old Spaniard defeated South Africa’s Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 for his third US Open title and his 16th career Grand Slam crown after having taken a 10th French Open trophy in June at Roland Garros.
The triumph moved Nadal three shy of Roger Federer’s alltime record of 19 Slam singles titles.
The US Open was the final Slam at which Toni, Nadal’s longtime coach and inspiration, will join him, instead taking a role directing Nadal’s academy.
In his victory speech, Nadal reflected on what Toni meant to his life in building the grit to overcome numerous knee injuries.
“It’s not one lesson. Diary is in the head from 3 years old,” Nadal said. “Probably without him I’ll never be playing tennis. I’m thankful I had somebody like him pushing me all the time.
“Because he gave me motivation I could get through the problems I had. I can thank him for making me stronger.”
When Nadal reclaimed the world number one ranking last month, it was the first since in more than three years he had topped the list.
And when Federer lost in the US Open quarter-finals to Juan Martin del Potro, Nadal was ensured of keeping the top spot.
It has been a long journey to his latest Grand Slam glory.
Nadal won an under-12 regional crown at eight and by 12 had captured Spanish and European age-group junior titles.
By 15, he had turned professional and was facing foes on the global circuit as Anderson.
At 17, Nadal won his first match against Federer.
At 19, he won the 2005 French Open in his debut, the first of nine Grand Slam titles in 10 years he would claim on the red clay of Roland Garros, cementing a legacy as the greatest player ever seen on the surface.
It was early in his career when Nadal began his habit of biting the trophies he wins.
Nadal added Wimbledon crowns in 2008 and 2010, an Australian Open title in 2009 and completed the career Grand Slam in 2010 by defeating Novak Djokovic in the US Open final, becoming the youngest in the Open era (since 1967) to complete the fourevent 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.
Nadal, the sixth left-hander to win a US Open title, added another crown in 2013, again downing Djokovic in the final.
Knee injuries took a toll throughout his career, costing him nine Slam appearances, and 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 Australian Open final, losing to Federer, then captured his record 10th French Open in June, setting the stage for his title run in the Flushing Meadows fortnight.
Because he gave me motivation I could get through the problems I had. I can thank him for making me stronger...It’s not one lesson.