GRAND STAND
Nadal closes in on Federer with 16th Slam victory
By MARC BERMAN
It’s a Sweet 16 for Rafael Nadal. It looked like Roger Federer would have this year to himself, but his nemesis has put himself back into the conversation of matching the Swiss Maestro’s record of Grand Slam titles.
Nadal took out 28th-seeded Kevin Anderson in a drama-free 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 men’s final rout at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday for his 16th career Grand Slam title, his third U.S. Open title and second major of 2017.
Looking spry as ever at age 31, the lefty slugger never faced a break point on his serve. He lost just 15 points in his service games. He looked as dominant late in the Flushing fortnight as he did on the red clay when claiming his record 10th French Open this spring.
“Unbelievable what has happened this year,’’ Nadal said during the trophy presentation after winning his first Open since 2013 and first hardcourt event since the same year. “Since the first important event of the year in Australia, I’ve played a high level of tennis.’’
Later, he added, “It’s tough to win two Grand Slams. You only have four chances. It was a very special year.’’
With 16 major titles, Nadal trails Federer by just three. The tennis year ended with the two old, great warriors splitting the four Grand Slam events, but Nadal cemented himself as the world’s No. 1 player. Had Nadal not blown a 3-1 fifth-set lead to Federer in the Australian Open finals, that disparity in Grand Slam titles would be just 18-17.
“I really don’t think much about these things,’’ Nadal said. “He has 19. I have 16. So three is big difference. Of course this rivalry has been important for our sport. I think that was the great promotion for our sport.”
However, Nadal indicated health will determine whether he has a shot at Federer, with whom he will team in doubles for Team Europe at the inaugural Laver Cup later this month.
“Being healthy, you see everything more possible,’’ Nadal said. “With injuries, everything seems impossible. But being healthy and have the chance to practice well, everything changes. I still want to compete and still feel the nerves every time that I go on court. If [those] things keep happening, I will be here.”
The 2016 Nadal was beset by major issues with his left wrist, forcing him out of Wimbledon.
“The real disaster last season was the injuries,’’ he said.
The air went out of the men’s draw when Federer was upset in the quarterfinals by Juan Martin del Potro. Without Federer in his path, Nadal rode easily to the final. In the 32nd-ranked Anderson, Nadal got to face the lowest-ranked player ever to reach the Open finals since ATP rankings were instituted in 1973.
The 6-foot-8 Anderson, a one-dimensional big server, got s far as he did primarily on a decimated draw in which three of the top-five players (Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray) were not present.
But Nadal still had to go out and beat the hard-serving journeyman from South Africa and did so after a competitive start. Nadal’s victory also occurred during the last tournament in which his uncle, Toni Nadal, will serve as his full-time coach.
The first set was a taut one, lasting 58 minutes, but Nadal finally got to Anderson in the match’s seventh game, succeeding on his fifth break point. Anderson committed a double fault to set up Nadal’s advantage, then pulled a forehand wide to fall behind 4-3.
The match’s third game lasted 13 minutes and six deuces, and Nadal failed to break Anderson’s serve, but it was no harbinger.
“I was surprised in January,’’ Nadal said. “Now I am not that much surprised, no?”