Rafa rewrites history

Written by: Staff on 14th September 2010

TENNIS: US Open-Rafael Nadal vs Novak Djokovic

Rafa rewrites history

Sept. 13, 2010; Flushing, NY, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) on day 15 of the 2010 US Open at Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Susan Mullane-US PRESSWIRE |

Nothing was going to stop Rafael Nadal at the US Open this year – not rain, not delays, not outrageous scheduling and, in the end, not Novak Djokovic. Nadal was on a mission to make history and with his 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 win over the tiring Serb in the final, he claimed his place in the record books and marched one pace closer to matching Roger Federer’s resume as the greatest of all time.

At the age of 24 years and 102 days, Nadal completed his career Grand Slam. He is the youngest man to achieve the feat in the open era and the third youngest man in all. Then again, only seven men have ever notched up the four titles in the course of their career, the last one being that bloke Federer who managed it at Roland Garros last year.

But Nadal also set out his claim to be regarded as one of the true greats of the game by becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open in the same year. Monday night’s victory was his ninth grand slam title leaving the ever-humble Spaniard seven trophies short of Federer’s record of 16. Seven major titles is a lot of silverware to collect but with youth on his side – provided he stays healthy – he looks unstoppable on any surface in any city.

This was always going to be the hardest of the major tournaments for him to win. At the end of a long season, the unforgiving hardcourts did not suit his game and they hurt his ailing knees. Yet with a revamped service, he has made Flushing Meadows look like his second home this year. Until Monday’s final, he had not dropped a set and had only be been broken twice in 91 service games. He was ripping through the draw – and then he met Djokovic.

The Serb had reinvented himself over the course of the two weeks. From being down and almost out in the opening round, he had grown in strength in confidence and had pulled off a remarkable victory in the semi finals to beat Federer. But against Nadal, he could not stop the inevitable. Rafa was relentless and he was not to be beaten.

Djokovic tried everything he could think of to get a foothold in the match. He had lost 14 of their previous 21 matches but, even so, he had won the last three, all on hard courts. He knew how to beat Nadal but, this time, Nadal simply would not let him get close.

Djokovic was so nervous at the start of the match that he could barely breathe but, gradually – and after smashing his racket in frustration – he got his legs working and his pulse rate down. His forehand was digging him out of trouble and, at times it was doing serious damage to the Spaniard’s defences. But it was still not enough.

“He’s getting better, you know. That’s what’s so frustrating,” Djokovic said, with a smile. “He has all the capabilities to be the best ever. If he can stay strong to play for the next five, six, seven years, he can do it. He has won each major, he can win on every surface. Right now he’s the best player in the world and he absolutely deserves this title.”

For Nadal, the moment of victory was more than he could have dreamed of. As Djokovic’s final shot sailed wide of the tramlines, he fell on his back and burst into tears. Winning grand slam titles has become a habit, but to win all four of them was beyond his wildest imagination. Djokovic knew it, too, and trotted around the net to embrace the man who had just run him ragged for a little under four hours. The Serb is an emotional soul but he took the defeat on the chin – to lose to one of the greatest players of all time was no disgrace.

Nadal was still an emotional wreck as the TV men prepared for the presentation ceremony. He went to applaud the crowd but sank to his knees on the court and sobbed again.

“That’s more than what I dreamt,” he said. “Just to arrive to the final was amazing. In a few seconds, to have the trophy in my hand is going to be unbelievable.”

Nadal had set his sights on this title years ago but had never managed to reach New York in any state to challenge for it and either injured or exhausted, he had never got beyond the semi finals before. This time, though, he was ready and no matter that the final had been postponed for a day by rain, no matter that the match was interrupted for nearly two hours by a thunderstorm, he would not let the trophy escape him. As Djokovic had pointed out a long time ago, Nadal does not play to win or to lose – he just plays. And that is almost impossible to beat. Roll on the Australian Open.

Topics: 24 Years, Bloke, Career Grand Slam, First Man, French Open, Grand Slam Title, Greatest Of All Time, Hardcourts, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Record Books, Remarkable Victory, Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Roland Garros, Semi Finals, Serb, Service Games, Seven Men, True Greats