US Open - Rafa Nadal Beats Novak Djokovic To Win Second US Open Title
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2013/09/us-open-rafa-nadal-beats-novak-djokovic.html
World number two Rafael Nadal produced some sensational tennis as he beat Novak Djokovic 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 to lift the US Open title in New York.
The victory gave Nadal, unbeaten now in 22 hard court matches this year, his 10th title in 13 tournaments since returning from a seven-month injury lay-off in February.
The Spaniard, also the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2010, fell to the court in flood of tears after securing the title when Djokovic netted a forehand following three hours and 19 minutes of play.
"I never thought something like this could happen," said Nadal, who watched last year's US Open on television at home during a seven-month absence from the tour due to a knee injury. "I feel very lucky about what happened since I came back.
"Playing against Novak is a very special feeling," the 27-year-old said. "Probably no one brings my game to the level that Novak does."
Coming into the final Nadal had only lost one set, to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round, and had only been broken once, by Richard Gasquet in the last four, and for the first set-and-a-half against Djokovic nothing looked set to change as the Spaniard dominated the baseline rallies.
But the world number one, playing in his fourth consecutive US Open final, suddenly found some breathtaking tennis to take control of the second set and suggest a reoccurrence of their five set epic battles in their last two Grand Slam meetings - the French Open semi-final earlier this year and the Australian Open final in 2012.
Nadal, however, had other ideas and battled back from an early break down in the third set before running away with proceedings in the fourth as Djokovic tired.
"He was too good," said Australian Open champion Djokovic. "He definitely deserved to win this match and this trophy.
"Obviously it's disappointing to lose a match like this. But it's an honour and privilege to be fighting for this trophy."
The Spaniard, also the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2010, fell to the court in flood of tears after securing the title when Djokovic netted a forehand following three hours and 19 minutes of play.
"I never thought something like this could happen," said Nadal, who watched last year's US Open on television at home during a seven-month absence from the tour due to a knee injury. "I feel very lucky about what happened since I came back.
"Playing against Novak is a very special feeling," the 27-year-old said. "Probably no one brings my game to the level that Novak does."
Coming into the final Nadal had only lost one set, to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the fourth round, and had only been broken once, by Richard Gasquet in the last four, and for the first set-and-a-half against Djokovic nothing looked set to change as the Spaniard dominated the baseline rallies.
But the world number one, playing in his fourth consecutive US Open final, suddenly found some breathtaking tennis to take control of the second set and suggest a reoccurrence of their five set epic battles in their last two Grand Slam meetings - the French Open semi-final earlier this year and the Australian Open final in 2012.
Nadal, however, had other ideas and battled back from an early break down in the third set before running away with proceedings in the fourth as Djokovic tired.
"He was too good," said Australian Open champion Djokovic. "He definitely deserved to win this match and this trophy.
"Obviously it's disappointing to lose a match like this. But it's an honour and privilege to be fighting for this trophy."
