NADAL WINS THIRD US OPEN, 16TH SLAM
BEATS SOUTH AFRICAN KEVIN ANDERSON IN STRAIGHT SETS
NEWYORK: Rafael 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, 6-3,6-4inabrutally one-sided final during which he did not face a break point.
Na dal also claimed an unprecedented 10 th 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 W aw rink a with three apiece.
Only Andy Roddick, Gaston G audio, Mar a tS a fin, Juan Martin del Pot roandM arin Ci lic have broken the spell.
“We are are inaner a 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 en during appeal and dominance, Fede re rand Nadal shared the four Slamsin2017---Federerwinning 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 thatheis 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 Na dal was ranked at nine in the world and Federer was 16. It was also a 2016 season that saw the injury-hobbled Na dal 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.