US Open Tennis 2011: Previewing Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal | Bleacher Report US Open Tennis 2011: Previewing Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse the slideshow Clive Mason/Getty Images 6 Comments Andy Murray has made the semifinals in each Grand Slam tennis tournament this season, and today's US Open semifinal matchup against Spain's Rafael Nadal will be his ultimate test. Nadal is the defending champion at the US Open, and also won the French Open earlier this season. Both Murray and Nadal beat Americans in the quarterfinals to get here, with Nadal beating Andy Roddick in straight sets and Murray outlasting John Isner in four sets. Andy Murray has never won a Grand Slam tournament, and a win today versus Nadal would give him another Final appearance and a shot at glory. Let's preview what is sure to be an exciting match. Nadal Owns Murray Head-to-Head Michael Regan/Getty Images Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray have faced each other 16 times, and Nadal has won 12 of them, including the last four meetings.

It's been a pretty one-sided rivalry, but a win in today's US Open semifinal would be a huge confidence boost for Murray, who has struggled in his career against the other members of the "Big Four" ( Novak Djokovic , Roger Federer , Nadal, Murray). All four of Murray's victories against Nadal have come on hard courts, which is what the US Open is played on. Murray beat Nadal in the semifinal of the 2008 US Open, but was then beaten by Roger Federer in the final. Murray likes hard courts and does well on them, so there is no reason to believe he can't beat Nadal today in New York. Nadal Looked Great in Semifinal Win Versus Andy Roddick Al Bello/Getty Images Rafael Nadal looked quite impressive in his straight sets victory against Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals on Friday, cruising past the American 6-2, 6-1, 6-3.

With the easy victory against Roddick, Nadal has yet to drop a set at the US Open, and a win against Andy Murray in today's semifinal would give him a chance to win his 11th Grand Slam title. Nadal broke Roddick's mighty serve six times, and had an amazing 22-0 advantage in forehand winners. Murray Must Control His Emotions, and Play Smart Matthew Stockman/Getty Images One of the most important keys to victory for Andy Murray today is not to let his emotions get the best of him. It's frustrating to keep coming so close to winning a Grand Slam only to fall short, but when he allows himself to be angry and frustrated it's game over for him, especially against a great player like Rafael Nadal. Murray must also dominate while serving, because he cannot allow Nadal to break him as much as the Spaniard broke Andy Roddick's serve in the quarterfinals. Murray also can't afford to give up cheap points due to unforced errors. Against John Isner in the quarterfinals, Murray's lob shots and forehands were very accurate, and he needs that same pinpoint location to beat Nadal, who is a very quick player.

With Nadal's endless energy and no-quit style of play, Murray must also make sure he's hydrated and doesn't wear himself out in the heat. Prediction Chris Trotman/Getty Images Andy Murray will beat Rafael Nadal and advance to the final of the 2011 US Open against either Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer. Murray has looked very good in the buildup to his semifinal matchup against Nadal and will be accurate and powerful in all areas of his game on Saturday. He also has great success on hard courts, and has won against Nadal at this stage of the US Open before. Murray will overcome his Spanish rival, and will move one step closer to his first ever Grand Slam singles title. Nicholas Goss is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, follow him on Twitter.

Follow @NicholasGoss35 Novak Djokovic battles past Rafael Nadal to first US Open title | Sport | The Guardian Novak Djokovic battles past Rafael Nadal to first US Open title • Serb wins third grand slam title of year • Completes victory 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal produced some astonishing tennis in the US Open final, with the Serb eventually winning in four sets. Photograph: Mehdi Taamallah/PA Kevin Mitchell at Flushing Meadows Monday 12 September 2011 20.48 EDT First published on Monday 12 September 2011 20.48 EDT Share on Messenger Close Novak Djokovic might still be the king of tennis but it took a struggle of epic proportions over four sets at Flushing Meadows to rip Rafael Nadal's fingers from his crown. The Serb beat him for the sixth time in six finals this year to take the Spaniard's US Open title in a match of so many highs the lows were rendered irrelevant, a price worth paying for one of the finest finishes to a major in recent times.

The sustained quality of the exchanges, in rallies that ran to 30 shots and more, left the 24,712 excitement junkies packed into the Arthur Ashe stadium delirious on a balmy New York Monday night and the combatants drained of the last drop of their genius. It took the world No 1 four hours and 10 minutes to subdue the reigning champion 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 on a night when one miracle followed another. It was not just the length of the fight that made it such a compelling sporting occasion but the ability and willingness of both players to come back from impossible positions. Nadal lost his serve 11 times, yet never gave up; Djokovic, battered in the tie-break, took a medical time-out at the start of the fourth set, then immediately broke Nadal, going on to finish a job he had looked like completing maybe two hours earlier. The tournament was introduced by an earthquake, survived a hurricane, was embarrassingly mismanaged as courts and nerves cracked in the second week as the elements returned to mock the organising committee, then was marred by a Serena Williams tantrum on Sunday.

But the men's delayed final restored the championship's integrity in the most emphatic manner. The crowd responded to the mood. Several times the chair umpire, Carlos Ramos, had to call for quiet from supporters of both players who were shouting either during serve or on critical strokes in a rally. The interruptions seemed to disturb Djokovic more than Nadal. It was an unequivocal statement by Djokovic. There can be no argument that he has the measure of not just Nadal but Roger Federer, the world No3 whom he beat in that remarkable semi-final on Saturday. It was his third slam title of the year, after Melbourne and Wimbledon, and only a magical reincarnation of the old Federer stopped him reaching the final at Roland Garros. Andy Murray was the other player to beat him in a year in which he hit peak after peak, culminating here with another crushing defeat of the world No2. If this were a fight, Nadal would have been punched to a pulp at the end but Djokovic's knuckles would have been bruised beyond recognition.

Djokovic, who has a win-loss record in 2011 of 64-2 with more to come, hit him hard and deep, wide and handsome, then had to take similar punishment in return. There was such ferocity in some of the winner's ground strokes that Nadal had to reply leaning back and hitting from way behind the baseline. For sustained passages of play he simply could not get into range to hit easy winners. His points were dredged from desperate deaths or scored on his opponent's errors. Nadal started so well and had the majority of the crowd with him when he broke Djokovic early in each of the first two sets, only to surrender the advantage at once. Stirred, Djokovic retaliated fiercely. But the Mallorcan's serve let him down at crucial points, dipping to 50% in the second set, when he looked like being blown away. But nobody could doubt Nadal's fighting heart. On one of the few occasions when he had Djokovic on the back foot, 2-0 up at the start of the second set thanks to six unforced errors by his opponent, he was perfectly placed to extend his lead.

Then came the game of the match: a 17-minute duel on Nadal's serve in which he was dragged into eight deuce points and Djokovic finally broke him on the sixth opportunity. It came at the end of another long, gruelling rally, Nadal, straining backwards in mid-court banging a tired smash into the net. If that was the longest war, there were several other skirmishes nearly as tough. In the fifth game of the third set, having broken back in the previous game, a 27-shot rally at 40-30 up ended in agony for Nadal and another deuce battle. They traded so many quality shots in the exchanges that followed it seemed the game would never end. When it did, the ball flew limply down the tram-lines off Nadal's racket to give Djokovic yet another glimmer of a kill. They went at it all the way to the final bell and there were tears, inevitably, when the deed was done. The mutual respect between them is palpable and that is something not always evident at the summit of international sport. They did their sport a great service.

The Dutch Rabobank racer took stage three of the Tour in Stoke and tops the classification going into Wednesday's leg in Wales Published: 13 Sep 2011 Rafael Nadal said the world No1 and new US Open champion, Novak Djokovic, 'is doing unbelievable things' Published: 13 Sep 2011 US Open 2011: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in epic final - BBC Sport BBC Sport US Open 2011: Novak Djokovic beats Rafael Nadal in epic final By David Ornstein Media playback is not supported on this device Djokovic keen on career slam Novak Djokovic confirmed his status as the world's best player with a stunning victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal to lift his first US Open title. The top seed from Serbia gave a display of breathtaking quality to triumph 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 in four hours and 10 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal, who was bidding to win his 11th Grand Slam title, has now lost all six of his meetings with Djokovic in 2011.

Djokovic holds the Australian Open, Wimbledon and US Open titles. And he becomes only the sixth man in the open era to win three of the four majors in the same year. "It's an incredible feeling," said the 24-year-old, who has lost only two of his 66 matches in 2011. "I've had an amazing year and it keeps going. Every time I play Rafa it's a big challenge. Match stats Break points 6/14 "He's had a great tournament and I wish we have many more tough matches in the coming years." Djokovic was beaten by Nadal at the same stage 12 months ago, but he turned the tables on the Spaniard this time around - and how. The crowd were treated to several pulsating baseline rallies in the opening stages, Nadal breaking serve for 2-0 only to surrender his advantage immediately. Djokovic showed brilliant skill in windy conditions to save three break points for 2-2 and constructed a couple of stunning combinations to strike in game five. The top seed was dictating the tempo and he broke again when Nadal netted a backhand under pressure before serving out the 53-minute opener to love.

Nadal enjoyed a relatively comfortable service game to start the second set and then managed to break his opponent with a trademark forehand down the line. But the errors returned in a truly incredible game three, which saw Djokovic squander five break points before converting a sixth when Nadal netted a routine smash. Media playback is not supported on this device Nadal happy to have reached final It was a game that whipped the crowd into a frenzy but seemed to sap the life out of Nadal and after watching Djokovic hold to love, he fell 3-2 behind with a double-fault. The 10-time Grand Slam champion dug deep to break back for 4-4 with a backhand pass, yet Djokovic quickly regained the momentum and served out for a two-set lead. Both men produced some astonishing tennis at the beginning of the the third and, after swapping breaks, a perfectly-timed drop shot helped Djokovic move 3-2 ahead. Nadal shook his head in disbelief but managed to level with a forehand down the line, secured the first service hold in five games and then engineered a break point at 4-3. At times the tennis was frightening.

We've seen some amazing things in this golden era for men's tennis, but several of the rallies last night hit new heights. Djokovic and Nadal traded brutal, relentless blows. The rallies were seemingly won, time and time again, only to continue sometimes for upwards of 30 strokes. The superstar of tennis in 2011 has just taken his extraordinary season to a whole new level. Read Jonathan's US Open winners and losers blog Djokovic averted the danger with a backhand winner to end a jaw-dropping 31-shot rally and another to break for 6-5, meaning he would serve for the match. However, this time Nadal came out on top in a dramatic exchange that left Djokovic on his knees and helped the Spaniard force a tie-break. The noise reached a deafening crescendo and Nadal responded with an all-out attack, crafting his way to 5-1 and taking the first of three set points when Djokovic lashed a tired forehand into the net. Djokovic looked in real trouble when he required a treatment for a back problem at the changeover, but he came out firing and snapped up three straight games to put himself firmly on course for victory.

A comfortable service hold made it 4-1 and Djokovic thumped his chest with delight on breaking a weary Nadal to love in game six. He unleashed a glorious inside-out forehand - his 51st winner of the match - to seal an unforgettable win and his fourth Grand Slam title. Share this page 2011 U.S. Open -- Novak Djokovic downs Rafael Nadal to win U.S. Open comment NEW YORK -- Bothered by pain in his back, ribs and cramping legs, Novak Djokovic was face-down beside the court in Arthur Ashe Stadium, getting massaged by a trainer. Having dropped a set against defending champion Rafael Nadal , Djokovic's grip on the U.S. Open final appeared to be starting to slip away and, worse, his body was breaking down. His confidence? That, more than any particular stroke, is what Djokovic credits with transforming him from a top player to a great one -- and it never wavered one bit Monday night. Producing a nearly perfect performance to match his nearly perfect season, the No. 1-ranked Djokovic returned brilliantly, whipped winners from all angles and beat No.

2 Nadal 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 in a match chock-full of lengthy, mesmerizing points to earn the first U.S. Open championship of his career and third Grand Slam trophy of 2011. "In big matches, the winner is decided by small margins, a couple points. I guess the winner is the one who believes in victory more," said Djokovic, who is 64-2 with 10 tournament titles. "I guess it just clicked in my head. Through the last couple of years, I didn't change my game in any major way. ... But I'm hitting shots that maybe I wasn't hitting," he explained. "I'm going for it. I'm more aggressive." It's sure working, particularly against the man he replaced atop the rankings, Nadal. A year ago, it was Nadal who won three major titles, including a win over Djokovic in the final at Flushing Meadows.

That defeat helped Djokovic realize he was being too passive at key moments on his sport's most important stages and set him on a path that's led to one of the greatest seasons in the history of men's tennis -- or any sport, for that matter. "I've had an amazing year," Djokovic said, "and it keeps going." Nadal led their head-to-head series 16-7 at the end of 2010. And since? Djokovic is 6-0 against Nadal this year, all in tournament finals -- three on hard courts, including Monday; two on clay; and one on grass at Wimbledon. Djokovic also won the Australian Open in January, and is only the sixth man in the 40-plus years of the Open era to win three major titles in a single season. "Obviously I'm disappointed," Nadal said, "but you know what this guy is doing is unbelievable." Novak Djokovic celebrates after capturing his first U.S. Open title Monday, repelling Rafael Nadal in four dramatic sets.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images With a couple of months left, Djokovic can set his sights on the best win-loss record in the modern era: John McEnroe went 82-3 in 1984, although that only included two Grand Slam titles, because he lost in the French Open final and didn't enter the Australian Open. Roger Federer was 81-4 in 2005 with two majors, exiting twice in the semifinals. Rod Laver (1962, 1969) and Don Budge (1938) are the only men to win all four Grand Slam tournaments in a year. The biggest change Nadal has noticed in Djokovic? "He's confident enough in every moment to keep believing in one more ball, one more ball," Nadal said. "His forehand is not more painful than before. His backhand is not more painful than before. Serve's the same." Of all of Djokovic's skills, the one that separated him the most Monday was his return. He repeatedly sent serves back at Nadal's feet, forcing errors or giving Djokovic control of the point.

That helped Djokovic accumulate an astounding 26 break points and convert 11. Consider this: When Nadal completed his career Grand Slam by winning last year's U.S. Open, he was broken a total of five times in seven matches. Another telling statistic: Four times Monday, Nadal broke Djokovic -- only to have Djokovic break right back in the next game. That's exactly what happened in the third game of the second set, which lasted 17 minutes and featured a bit of everything: 22 points; eight deuces; six break points; a time violation warning against Nadal (Djokovic was admonished later in the set); complaints by both men that the glare from the stadium lights was bothersome; seven exchanges that lasted at least 10 strokes. After a 28-shot point, Djokovic leaned over and put his hands on his knees, his chest heaving. Nadal was the one who faltered, though. He double-faulted to set up break point No. 6, then -- on a great defensive lob by Djokovic -- put an overhead into the net.

More remarkable than all those breaks of serve was the way Djokovic seemed to break the will of the reliably relentless and indefatigable Nadal. At the end of the first set, when Djokovic reeled off six games in a row, and at the end of the match, Nadal wasn't even chasing Djokovic's shots. "It was a tough match," said Nadal, who owns 10 major titles. "Physical, mental, everything." Yes, and Djokovic turned this U.S. Open final rematch into something of a mismatch. He entered this year with one Grand Slam title, at the 2008 Australian Open. Djokovic attributes his surge to a variety of factors, including a vastly improved serve, better fitness -- owing, at least in part, to a gluten-free diet he doesn't like to discuss in any detail -- and, mostly, a seemingly endless reservoir of self-belief dating to December, when he led Serbia to its first Davis Cup title. Djokovic began a 43-match winning streak there, a run that ended with a semifinal loss to Federer in the French Open semifinals.

The only other blemish on Djokovic's 2011 record was a loss to Andy Murray in last month's Cincinnati Masters final, where Djokovic stopped playing while trailing, citing a painful shoulder. That was the 24-year-old Serb's last match before heading to Flushing Meadows. His shoulder was fine in New York, clearly, and while he was treated by a trainer and took painkilling pills in the late going Monday -- which is why his serves slowed to the 90s mph in the fourth set -- he overcame it. With both men playing fantastic, court-covering defense in a grueling contest that lasted 4 hours, 10 minutes, there were more than two dozen points that lasted at least 15 strokes. Djokovic quickly turned things around after falling behind 2-0 in each of the first two sets. Those were tiny deficits compared to what he dealt with in the semifinals Saturday: He lost the first two sets to Federer, then faced two match points at 5-3, 40-15, before smacking a cross-court return winner that sent him on the way to taking the last four games.

By backing up that victory on Monday, Djokovic became only the second man to defeat Federer and Nadal during the course of one Grand Slam tournament. Juan Martin del Potro did it en route to the 2009 U.S. Open title. The only time Djokovic truly faltered at all in the final was in the crucible of the third set, when he showed signs of being bothered by his lower back. His level dipped, and Nadal made one last stand. Djokovic went up 3-2 only to get broken, then served for the match at 6-5 and was broken again when he made two unforced errors, the second at the end of a 21-stroke exchange. "When I lost that third set, it wasn't fun," Djokovic said. "I knew I wasn't physically there." But in the fourth set, Djokovic was in control from the start, breaking in the second game with a forehand winner, then cruising from there. When Djokovic ended it with another forehand winner, he raised his arms, then tossed aside his racket and dropped to the court.

He pulled off his shirt and threw it into the stands, then put on a dark hat with "FDNY" written on it -- a nod to Sunday's 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which both he and Nadal mentioned during the trophy ceremony. The final -- delayed a day to Monday by rain for the fourth consecutive U.S. Open -- was marked by spectators calling out during points or as the players were in their service motions, and while that's perhaps to be expected in New York (as opposed to, say, the staid All England Club), Djokovic and Nadal were bothered by it, and the chair umpire repeatedly chastised the unruly crowd. Once he adjusted to the conditions, Djokovic disguised shots well, rearing back and ripping big shots off both wings -- often right near lines, if not right on them. He wound up with 55 winners -- 23 more than Nadal -- and, all in all, put on a masterful display of as diverse a game as one can have.

He excelled at everything -- serving, returning, volleying, groundstrokes and the sort of constant movement and retrieving with which Nadal usually frustrates opponents. Mostly, he kept telling himself he could win. "The bottom line is that that's the whole point -- to win Grand Slams -- because these are the tournaments most important and most valuable in our sport," Djokovic said. "Right now I feel drained emotionally and physically and mentally." Then, motioning with his right hand at the silver chalice that forever will carry his engraved name, Djokovic added: "But I have this trophy here, and this is what I was fighting for." Rafael Nadal: What Does the 2011 US Open Mean for His Legacy? | Bleacher Report Rafael Nadal: What Does the 2011 US Open Mean for His Legacy? Use your ← → (arrow) keys to browse more stories Clive Brunskill/Getty Images 39 Comments Although he is only 25 years old, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal is already considered one of the top six or seven best tennis players of all time.

By 24, Rafa had already become just the fourth player to have a career Grand Slam in the Open Era. He has won 10 Grand Slam titles (fourth in Open Era) and 46 titles overall. His six victories at the French Open are tied for the most (Bjorn Borg) of any player in the Open. From Monte Carlo 2005 to Hamburg 2007 (14 tournaments overall), Nadal won a surface-record 81 consecutive matches on clay. In short, Nadal has built himself a huge legacy in a very short amount of time. However, 2011 has not really been his year. After a wonderful 2010, in which the Spaniard won three Slams—including the US Open for the first time—and regaining the No. 1 ranking, it is fair to say that the current world No. 2 is in somewhat of a slump. To date, he has won only three titles (including his sixth Roland Garros) and has lost the top spot to Serb Novak Djokovic , who has beaten Nadal in five finals so far. Does Rafael Nadal need another US Open title to be considered an all-time great?

Yes 58.1% Total votes: 475 It is clear to any tennis fan that if Nadal wants to have a good season, he will have to repeat in New York. However, what impact does this final major carry on the Spaniard's legacy? No player has ever won every major more than once in the Open Era. Nadal still needs the US and the Australian Open to get to that feat. Although it may be tough to win with Djokovic playing unbelievable tennis a the moment, Nadal only has about two more years in his prime. In truth, though, it is very easy to tell what a win at Flushing Meadows would mean for Rafa. It would tie him with Bjorn Borg with 11 Slams. It would give him back-to-back titles at a non-clay court tournament for the first time in his career. It would prove that in a year that his play has been subpar, he can pull it all together to win a pair of Slams. If he beats Djokovic in the final, it would prove that he can beat a player at his absolute best—and on his favorite surface.

The more interesting question is: What if Rafa doesn't go all the way and loses either early or to a player like Roger Federer or Djokovic later on in the tourney? A return to what he was in 2006 or '07—when he would struggle in the hard court Slams, win the French and lose in Wimbledon final—would not be great news for camp Rafa. If Djokovic were to win the Open, he would validate his spot as the top player, and drop Nadal to the consensus No. 2. An early loss in NY would raise many doubters towards. It would prove to people that he would never be that Federer-esque dominator that he was believed to be entering the year. If Nadal makes the final, runs into the brick wall that is Djokovic and loses for a sixth consecutive time, many questions will arise. Even Federer—perhaps the most dominant player in history—couldn't master Nadal for three matches, much less six. With so many losses to one specific player, people will question how much more Rafa has in the tank.

So, the real reason why a win will be so important for Nadal is not to improve his legacy—although it would do so—but more to not hurt his legacy with an early loss. Rafa already has built a great legacy and he doesn't need to add much, but with another win he will truly be a man for all surfaces. It has been rare for Nadal to win a Slam when he is not the favorite, so if he can beat out heavy-chalk Djokovic, his season will be considered a success. If Nadal wants a good year, and truly to prove that he is not a "dirt-rat" who got lucky to take a couple hard-court majors, this US Open is the place to do so. Rafael Nadal | TENNIS.com Djokovic was beaten on Thursday in five sets by wild-card entry Denis Istomin. Jan 20, 2017 Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win second US Open title - BBC Sport BBC Sport Rafael Nadal beats Novak Djokovic to win second US Open title By Piers Newbery BBC Sport at Flushing Meadows 10 Sep 2013 Read more about sharing.

Rafael Nadal beat world number one Novak Djokovic in a pulsating four-set final to claim his second US Open title in New York. The Spaniard, 27, held on magnificently in the third set to go on and win a gripping contest 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 in three hours and 21 minutes. Most Grand Slam singles titles 17 - Roger Federer 12 - Roy Emerson 11 - Rod Laver, Bjorn Borg One incredible 54-shot rally - the longest in the tournament by 20 shots - summed up a battle that thrilled the 23,000 spectators in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal has now won 13 Grand Slam singles titles and moves within one of Pete Sampras in the all-time list, with Roger Federer leading on 17. And after missing last year's US Open during a seven-month absence with a knee injury, Nadal is now set to regain the number one ranking. "Having this success is amazing," he said. "I never expected it. That's life and I'm lucky to have what I'm having. Can Nadal surpass Federer?

"If he stays healthy, he can easily win four or five more Slams. No question about it. To me, he's better than ever. It's amazing how badly he wants it. I've never seen anything like it. Let's hope he stays healthy because it wil be great for our sport." "I really love the competition, I really love the sport. All my career I dreamed to be involved in matches like today. I enjoy every moment. "These things are not forever. In a few years I won't have this chance. I try my best, I have passion and that's all I can do." Monday's final was a predictably electrifying, punishing contest as the pair met for the 37th time - taking them past the rivalry of John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl to set a new record since the Open era began in 1968. It was their sixth Grand Slam final and third at Flushing Meadows, after the Spaniard won in 2010 and Djokovic took revenge in 2011.

Nadal, seeded second, had a 21-0 record on hard courts this year heading into the final, and had dropped serve just once while powering through the draw in New York. Match stats Break points 4/12 He began as many people's favourite and set about proving them right as he dominated for the first hour, accelerating through his forehand to find a gear that Djokovic simply could not contain. Two breaks earned Nadal the first set in a relatively brisk 42 minutes, but for the next 80 minutes it was all Djokovic as his forehand now began to dictate, while his returning ability increased the pressure. Nadal's seemingly impregnable serve was broken three times in succession, the first thanks to that lung-busting 54-shot rally that explored every inch of the court, and Djokovic raced through six of seven games to take a 2-0 lead in the third. Nadal was reeling, fending off another break point to avoid falling a double break behind, and it proved significant when the Djokovic storm abated and the errors crept back in game six.

After two hours and 17 minutes, the world's top two players were level at 3-3 in the third set, and it looked as though Djokovic had made the decisive move when he earned three break points at 4-4. Media playback is not supported on this device Rafael Nadal says his second US Open title is his "most emotional win" Nadal was knocked off his feet by the force of one strike that clipped his baseline, but the irrepressible Majorcan refused to yield, coming back to hold and then launching into a return game at 5-4 to earn set point. A trademark hammer of a forehand was too much for even the elastic Djokovic to get back, and a jubilant Nadal crouched at the baseline, punching his fist, as he took a lead that had seemed hugely unlikely only minutes earlier. The belief appeared to drain from Djokovic and, after saving an early break point in the fourth set with a net cord, Nadal left no room for bad luck when he crunched another forehand on his next opportunity.

A titanic struggle came to a tame end as Djokovic sprayed two backhands into the tramlines to fall 5-1 behind, but there were plenty of emotions on display after Nadal saw the Serb find the net on match point. In-form Nadal Nadal has now won all 22 hard-court matches he has played in 2013 He has won 10 titles this year, from 12 finals He has lost only three of 63 matches all year He had won 88 consecutive service games until Richard Gasquet broke him in semi-final The victorious Spaniard fell to the ground before tearfully celebrating with his supporters. "All of my team knows how much this match today means to me," added Nadal. "Playing against Novak is always a very special feeling and nobody brings my game to the limit like he does." Djokovic, whose loss was a fourth in five US Open finals, admitted. "He was too good, he definitely deserved to win this match and the trophy. "Obviously, it's disappointing to lose a match like this.

Again, it was a huge privilege and an honour to fight for this trophy." Tennis - Rafael Nadal's quest for double-digit French Open titles comment In April, Rafael Nadal looked like the leading man again, winning back-to-back titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He took down Stan Wawrinka , Andy Murray and Gael Monfils in Monte Carlo, then handled Kei Nishikori in the Barcelona final. There was a considerable pep in his step, an unmistakable glide in his stride. Nadal has impossibly high standards, particularly when he plays on clay. That standard, of course, is himself. In the span of a decade, from 2005 to 2014, he won a record nine French Open championships. With one more French Open title, Rafael Nadal would become the first player in the Open era to win 10 Grand Slam titles at a single event. Julian Finney/Getty Images Which raises the question: Is Rafa ready to bring home No. 10? "I think I'm on a positive path," Nadal said to the media in Rome last week. "I hope to continue on this path. I feel happy competing. I'm comfortable.

Also when I train, I train with a lot of joy to continue going this way." As he approaches age 30 -- Rafa will hit the milestone on June 3, the second week of Roland Garros -- the search for supreme confidence is ongoing. In the Rome semifinals, Rafa played as well against Novak Djokovic as you can play -- without winning. It was 7-5, 7-6 (4). It could have been a preview of the potentially most compelling match in Paris. It is not completely unreasonable to imagine Nadal winning that match, whether it's the quarterfinals, semifinals or finals. Ten. Roll that one around in your mind. In terms of tennis, it is an almost unfathomable number. Roger Federer and Pete Sampras both won seven times on the lush lawns of Wimbledon. Martina Navratilova did it on nine occasions. But no player in the Open era has hit double digits in a single Grand Slam event. Margaret Smith Court did win 11 Australian Open titles, but seven of them (won consecutively, from 1960 to '66) came before the Open era began.

Eighteen-time Grand Slam champion Chris Evert won seven French Open championships, but there is an asterisk. After winning in 1974 and 1975, she skipped Paris for three consecutive years, choosing to play in Billie Jean King's World Team Tennis venture. Evert was the WTA's No. 1-ranked player over that time, and when she returned to Paris, she won the titles in 1979 and 1980. "I think 10 would be tremendous for Rafa," Evert said recently. "I mean, what can you say about what that would mean? "I think that for a male player, three of five sets on red clay is the hardest to win. It's just hard work. He's the greatest clay-court grinder that ever lived. Mentally, it's so tough to have the patience and the perseverance." Evert was a sparkling 72-6 in her matches at Roland Garros. Nadal is a smoking 70-2. Bjorn Borg, who retired at the age of 25, was 49-2 at the French.

Paul Annacone, longtime coach of Sampras and a Tennis Channel analyst, said that going forward, Nadal will have to balance his career-long desire to play many matches against a more prudent approach. "My big concern for Rafa is this: As you get older, it's very difficult to sustain an unbelievably high level for a long time," Annacone said. "That's how Rafa has always gained confidence -- win Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Madrid and Rome. At [almost] 30, that's hard not to take something out of the fuel tank. "That's why people like Sampras and Federer, who innately think they're better than everybody -- not arrogantly, but matter-of-factly -- age better. It's why those guys can play at a high level for longer than Rafa, and, say, [Ivan] Lendl, Thomas Muster . It's not a criticism, but an observation. "For Rafa, it's a matter of sustaining confidence, but not playing too much that he depletes the reserve." Rafa's renaissance has not gone unnoticed in the small circle of elite former players. Two venerable Australian Grand Slam champions have been watching from their homes in the United States.

"The way Nadal is playing right now, that's going to be interesting if Nadal and Djokovic meet in the French semifinal or final," 11-time major winner Rod Laver told ESPN.com. "You just don't know how Djokovic would react because he thought he was going to win last year. "For me, I would think if they play at same level and get to one of the last matches, I would think Nadal might be the one to win." Roy Emerson, a 12-time Grand Slam champion, admires Nadal's work ethic. "Every single point, he plays like it's the second World War," Emerson said. "He doesn't hit anyone off court with serve anymore, but every point's a battle. It's impressive how he can have that desire and concentrate on winning all the points, every one.

Editor's Picks Rafael Nadal wins US Open final and confirms his greatness | Sport | The Guardian Rafael Nadal wins US Open final and confirms his greatness • Spaniard beats Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 Kevin Mitchell in New York Tuesday 14 September 2010 03.54 EDT First published on Tuesday 14 September 2010 03.54 EDT Share on Messenger Close Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic to win his first US Open and join six of the game's greatest players as the owner of all four grand slam titles. But, as with much of this tournament, forecasts and perceptions did not go wholly to plan, and the score – 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 – hardly reflected the depth and quality of a tennis match that more closely resembled a world heavyweight title fight. Only in the fading stages of the fourth and final set did Djokovic wilt like a battered contender, the accumulated baggage of two five-setters in an uneven but stirring campaign taking their ugly toll.

The first of those came against his unseeded countryman Viktor Troicki, when two sets to one down in the first round two weeks ago, the second in Saturday's semi-final against Roger Federer. Last night in New York, he punched all the way to the bell. That's a fighter. Nadal, who'd had a relatively easy ride to the final, would not be denied – but he recognised that his achievement was embellished by the courage of his opponent. At the end, Nadal rolled like a kid on the hard court, the surface that was supposed to be beyond him. Now he ruled the tennis world. Nadal's smile remained fixed in victory, more eloquent than a thousand words. "It's more than what I dreamt," he said in his charming, halting English. "Just to arrive to this final was amazing." To the loser he said: "You're a great player, you're going to win this trophy very soon, I'm sure of that." He was vulnerable and imperfect; he converted only six of 23 break points, to his opponent's three from four. But, ultimately, Nadal had the greater reserves of genius on which to call.

He kept his unforced error count to near zero at the end, a remarkable feat, and he pulverised the white line with deep, whirring forehands. Only his backhand really let him down. But he's working on it. It was a final that will be remembered for long, tough, exhilarating rallies, some amazing winners and impossible saves, many of them by the loser, in three hours 42 minutes of pulsating fortunes, interrupted by nearly two hours of rain. The Spaniard was expected to win in style after reaching the final without dropping a set – a feat not matched here since Neale Fraser did it 50 years ago – but Djokovic refused to be a mere sparring partner. He'd already upset every prediction by beating Federer in a match that, to that point, could fairly be considered the finest performance of his distinguished career, even when compared with his win in the Australian Open final two years ago. This will push both close. Last night, hunger for a second major blazed in Djokovic's eyes against his long-time friend, and it was his ambition that made it such a great fight.

In a year of outstanding sporting performances by Spain – most prominently elsewhere at the World Cup and the Tour de France – Nadal rode highest, the first player to win the French, Wimbledon and the US since Rod Laver in 1969 – and he is the first to do so on three different surfaces. His ninth slam not only puts him seven behind the faltering Federer, but lifts him alongside Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi and Federer as owners of all the four slams. The humblest of champions, he will continue to deflect what he considers excessive praise but it is unavoidable. He is still only 24 and, if his knees do not give up on him, has every chance of passing Federer's record, given the Swiss is showing signs of decline and, at 29, may not be such a force at the highest level too much longer. Nadal would not wish that so. He admires his greatest rival – and loves beating him. He was quietly saddened he did not get the chance to do so here, as victory on Federer's favourite surface would surely have confirmed the Spaniard as his master, at least for now, and maybe for all time.

Nadal joins a fine line of his compatriots too. Spain's Manuel Santana won this title on grass 35 years ago and Manuel Orantes, on clay, won it 25 years ago, both at Forest Hills. This year, of the 13 Spaniards in the draw, seven reached the fourth round, two were in the quarters – and the best of them all won the final. It was both a shame and predictable, then, that the finale to the 2010 grand slam season, a match that should have been a high-point in the game's recent history, was nearly reduced to a sodden farce by American television scheduling that suited the ratings and ignored the interests of the game, the players and the spectators. Had it started earlier, the match would have been over long before the minor storm that rushed up the eastern seaboard. Not for the first time, however, commercial interests over-rode those of sport. CBS insisted on a start at 4pm local time (effectively 4.20pm after the usual hoop-la) to run into their peak early-evening viewing time – even though they knew there was a 70% chance of rain for the second day in a row.

As difficult as it might have been to reschedule at late notice, there was no excuse for CBS walking away from the coverage when the rain arrived around 6pm – which they were always going to do unless Nadal and Djokovic, baseline specialists and two of the slowest players on the tour, somehow conspired to complete the final in a little over two hours. As it happened, the weather intervened, as forecast, and CBS handed over to their weekday partner, ESPN, while switching to their own news and the riveting showbusiness revelations of Entertainment Tonight. Unlike Sunday's storm, which came and stayed, yesterday's lasted an hour or so and, after diligent squeegee work and blow-drying, Nadal and Djokovic were trading shots again by 8pm. Players get used to disjointed matches because of weather but, from Djokovic's point of view, the stoppage, arriving with him a set down and serving at 30-30 and 4-4 in the second, seriously broke his rhythm. Still, when he grabbed that second set off Nadal, it strengthened his resolve. It was his rotten luck the guy across the net was just as stubborn.

Djokovic put it best and most simply at the end: "Right now he's the best player in the world and he absolutely deserves this title."

Question: Which tennis player beat Rafael Nadal to win his first US Open title in 2011?
Answer: Novak Djokovic