US OPEN Unforgettable day for Nadal

[Torrent Disney]

Delivering one of his most dramatic major final performances, Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title Sunday by winning his fourth US Open, outlasting Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.

“Has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career,” Nadal said.

A video tribute in the wake of his gritty triumph moved Nadal to tears.

KEY POINTS

♦ Nadal moved one shy of Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record 20 Grand Slam triumphs.

♦ The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander became the second-oldest New York champion in the Open era after Ken Rosewall in 1970 at age 35.

♦ Nadal is the first man to claim five major titles after turning 30.

♦ At four hours and 50 minutes, the match finished four minutes short of equalling the longest final in US Open history.

♦ Serving for the match, Nadal was broken when umpire Ali Nili issued Nadal a time violation for his first serve and the Spaniard sent his second long.

“The way that the match became very dramatic at the end, that makes this day unforgettable,” Nadal said.

“Watching all the success, all the moments that came to my mind, I tried to hold the emotion, but some moments was impossible.”

It took a supreme effort from the Spanish maestro, who nearly became the first player to drop the final after leading by two sets since Ted Schroeder in 1949 before winning a near five-hour thriller.

“This victory means a lot,” Nadal said. “And the way it happened. It was hard to control the nerves. The nerves were so high after having the match almost under control.”

World number two Nadal took the top prize of $3.85 million at Arthur Ashe Stadium and added to his US Open trophy haul from 2010, 2013 and 2017.

Nadal, who rose to 22-12 in five-set matches, only lost once at a Slam when up two sets, to Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the 2015 US Open third round.

“I more or less had the match under control,” Nadal said. “The way he was able to fight, to change the rhythm of the match, was incredible.”It was the second Slam title of the year for Nadal after taking his 12th French Open crown in June. 

In addition to reaching the brink of Federer’s mark, Nadal moved one shy of the Open era record five US Open titles won by Federer, Jimmy Connors and Pete Sampras.

“A 19th Grand Slam title is something unbelievable, outrageous,” Medvedev said.

Medvedev, who will rise to a career-best fourth in the rankings, was a champion at Cincinnati and runner-up at Montreal, Washington and the Open.

“His summer was one of the best summers I ever saw,” Nadal said. “People saw why he is already number four in the world.”

On a knife’s edge at 5-5 in the third set, Medvedev reeled off eight of the last nine points to force a fourth, breaking Nadal in the 12th game with a backhand winner