The Jerusalem Post

Nadal motivated by love of game, not records

Spaniard defies inspired Medvedev in five-set epic final to capture 19th career Grand Slam title

- • By RORY CARROLL

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Rafael Nadal moved within one Grand Slam title of tying Roger Federer’s all-time mark of 20 on Sunday, but even after adding a fourth US Open to his collection the Spaniard said it was his love of the game, not records, that motivates him.

Nadal fended off a late comeback from Daniil Medvedev to win a five-set classic at Flushing Meadows 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, winning a 19th slam that also took him three clear of 32-year-old Novak Djokovic’s 16 titles.

“I am playing tennis because I love to play tennis,” Nadal told reporters. “I can’t just think about Grand Slams. Tennis is more than Grand Slams. I need to think about the rest of the things.

“I play to be happy. Of course, the victory of today makes me super happy.”

It is anyone’s guess who among the “Big Three” will finish their career with the most slams.

At 33, Nadal may have the edge on Federer, the 38-year-old Swiss crashing out of the US Open in the quarterfin­als and failing to add to his Grand Slam titles since winning the 2018 Australian Open.

If nowhere else, Nadal will be a hot favorite at the French Open, where he has won a record 12 titles including the last three.

He said that while he was honored to be part of the battle to be crowned the greatest of all time, and thrilled if it attracted more fans to the game, he would still sleep well if he comes up short.

“You can’t be all day looking next to you about if one having more or one having little bit less because you will be frustrated,” he said.

“All the things that I achieved in my career are much more than what I ever thought and what I ever dream.

“I would love to be the one who have more. But I really believe that I will not be happier or less happy if that happens or not happen,” he said.

“What gives you the happiness is the personal satisfacti­on that you gave your best.

“In that way I am very, very calm, very pleased with myself.”

On Sunday, a routine end to the Flushing Meadows fortnight looked on the cards when Nadal, already two sets up, broke for a 3-2 lead over the tall Russian in the third.

From that point, however, the match was transforme­d into a near five-hour thriller as Medvedev staged a comeback that left the Spaniard shaken and Arthur Ashe Stadium buzzing.

“An amazing final – seemed that I had the match more or less, it has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career,” said Nadal.

“This victory means a lot especially because of the way the match became so difficult, so tough. These type of matches in the final of a Grand Slam make them special.”

At 33, Nadal became second oldest US Open champion in the profession­al era behind Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 35 when he lifted the title in 1970.

Not once since 1949 had a player come back from two sets down to win the US Open final but Medvedev, cheered loudly by a crowd that booed him mercilessl­y earlier in the week, came close on the back of some brilliant tennis.

“I was being myself,” said the 23-yearold Russian. “I was fighting for every point. I think they appreciate­d it.

“I know I have to leave my heart out there for them. I think they saw it and they appreciate it.”

On the ropes with Medvedev looking to deliver the knockout blow, Nadal showed once again why he is the game’s greatest fighter and he lifted himself off the canvas to scrap his way to the title.

The quality of tennis in the final three sets was breathtaki­ng at times, the long rallies swinging back and forth with neither player prepared to give up a single point without stretching every sinew.

After watching Medvedev erase his lead with a rasping backhand service return to win the fourth set, a rattled Nadal finally regrouped in the fifth and secured an early break to get in front 3-2.

The killer instinct Nadal has honed over nearly two decades at the top of the game then surfaced as he held serve and added yet another break to take control at 5-2. The drama was not over yet. Medvedev hit back one more time with a break of his own and a hold of serve to cut the advantage to 5-4 and the prospect of the Russian winning a major title with his first career five-set victory was briefly back on.

In the end, Nadal needed three championsh­ip points to finally see off his opponent after making no mistake with his second attempt to serve for the title.

The Spaniard let out a mighty roar when the Russian’s final return sailed long before falling on his back to soak up the cheers of an appreciati­ve crowd.

Already the King of Clay, Nadal has been a master of the Flushing Meadows hard-courts for the last two weeks, dropping just one set on way to the final.

His victory saw him join an elite club with Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Federer as winners of four or more US Open men’s singles titles in the open era.

Medvedev arrived at his first Grand Slam final as the hottest player in men’s tennis, riding the momentum from reaching four consecutiv­e finals, but it was not quite enough to carry him to a maiden major title.

While the women have served up four different Grand Slam winners this season, the old guard of Nadal, Federer and Djokovic continue to rule the men’s game, with the “Big Three” having combined to win the last 12 majors.

“I can say that I’m sure all of us, we’re fighting our best to try to make this transition,” said Medvedev.

“It’s really tough because these guys, they are playing good tennis. It’s really tough to beat them, even to get a set from them. Against them, even every game to win is tough.”

 ?? (Reuters) ?? WITH HIS US Open victory, Rafael Nadal won two of the year’s four majors (along with the French Open). Novak Djokovic won the other two (Australian Open, Wimbledon).
(Reuters) WITH HIS US Open victory, Rafael Nadal won two of the year’s four majors (along with the French Open). Novak Djokovic won the other two (Australian Open, Wimbledon).
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