Nadal eyes sweet sixteen

NEW YORK— Rafael Nadal can wrap up a 16th Grand Slam title and third at the US Open on Sunday but has to find a way past the almost unbreakable spirit of South Africa's Kevin Anderson.

The 31-year-old Spaniard, who captured a 10th Roland Garros in June and was runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open in January, is the overwhelming favourite.

He is the world number one playing in his 23rd Slam final and who won his first major as a 19-year-old at the sixth attempt.

Anderson, two weeks older, is playing in his first final at the Slams after a career stretching 32 majors.

Nadal's 73 career titles also dwarfAnderson's modest three.

But the Spaniard is wary of the challenge posed by 6ft 8in (2.02m) Anderson's deadly serve.

At the US Open, the South African has fired 114 aces and has been broken just five times in 108 service games.

He has also unleashed the tournament's third fastest serve of 137 mph (220.4km/h).

"It's a very tough one. He's a huge player with an unbelievable serve and he plays so well on these kinds of surfaces," said Nadal of a player he has known since he was 12 years old.

"I need to be ready for it. It is probably the most important match for me that remains this year, so I am going to try my best to play my best."

Nadal was champion in New York in 2010 and 2013 while finishing runner-up in 2011.