Nadal gives Next Gen wake-up call in ‘City That Never Sleeps’
NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal’s third US Open and 16th Grand Slam title meant a familiar look for the landscape of men’s tennis — and a worrying wake-up call in the “City That Never Sleeps” for the next generation.
The 31- year- old Spaniard defeated Kevin Anderson to ensure that the last five majors have been won by men over 30.
From Wimbledon in 2003, an incredible 53 of 58 Slams have now been claimed by just five men — Roger Federer (19), Nadal (16), Novak Djokovic (12) and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka with three apiece.
To hammer home their enduring appeal and dominance, Federer and Nadal shared the four Slams in 2017 — Federer beating Nadal in the Australian Open final before capturing a record eighth Wimbledon.
Nadal claimed an unprecedented 10th French Open before adding another US title on Sunday.
Both Federer and Nadal have five titles apiece for 2017, impressive for two men who were ranked 16 and nine respectively at the end of 2016.
With Murray, Djokovic and Wawrinka sidelined with injury, the US Open was to be the tournament where the ‘NextGen’ was to make its mark.
However, it was grim fortnight for most of the young pretenders.
Germany’s Alexander Zverev, who was seeded four, fell in the second round to Borna Coric despite arriving in New York with five titles, including the US Open tune-up in Montreal.
The 20- year- old’s best Slam performance remains his fourthround run at Wimbledon.
“I ’ ve been dea l ing wi th expectations from a very young age, so for my whole career. For me, this is just another step,” he said after his loss to Coric in a half of the draw thrown wide open after the injury-hit withdrawal of Murray.
“For me, nothing changes. I still have to go back to work and then try to win this title maybe in the future years.
“I know that I could have done some big things here. I know that I could have done something that I haven’t done before. But I won’t. It’s just as simple as that.”
Australia’s Nick Kyrgios lost first round to compatriot John Mill man while sixth-seeded Dominic Thiem, 24, squandered two match points in a five- set defeat in the fourth round to Juan Martin del Potro.
There was some hope for the future stars.
Frances Tia foe, just 19 and ranked at 70 to start the tournament, pushed Federer to five sets in the first round.
Grigor Dimitrov, who famously described himself as the “old next generation” was knocked out by 19-year- old Andry Rublev of Russia.
Rublev went all the way to the last- eight where he was beaten by Nadal, who allowed him just five games.
“I have to work as hard as I can and the main thing now is to try to keep working harder and harder to improve, because I still have a lot of things to improve,” said Rublev.
“This match told me how far I am and how much I need to improve, so now is time to try to be better and become stronger.
“The top players are faster than me. I need to hit four, five shots to make a winner. For Rafa, he needed one or two shots.”
Canadian 18-year- old qualifier Denis Shapovalov was also a revelation, coming through qualifying having also defeated Nadal at the Montreal Masters on his way to the semi-finals.
Shapovalov was ranked at 161 at the start of the year and is now on the cusp of the top 50 after beating French eighth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before a last-16 loss to Pablo Carreno Busta in three tiebreak sets.
“Definitely, there is still so much work to be done. I’m playing unbelievable tennis right now, but, yeah, it’s not going to be like this every week,” he admitted. — AFP
I’ve been dealing with expectations from a very young age, so for my whole career. For me, this is just another step. Rafael Nadal, world number one
NEW YORK: 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 number one Nadal defeated South Africa’s world number 32 Kevin Anderson 6- 3, 6- 3, 6- 4 in a brutally one- sided final during which he did not face a break point.
Na dal 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 fourth-round clash 15-13, the year might have been even 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 the quarterfinals.
“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 on Sunday 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. — AFP