Rafa Nadal crowned his brilliant year by defeating world number one Novak Djokovic to win the US Open title at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday and earn his 13th grand slam singles crown.
The Spaniard earned his second major championship this season following his French Open triumph, sealing the 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 win when Djokovic dumped a forehand into the net, sending Nadal down onto his back before rolling face down and sobbing in joy.
Nadal’s career total of 13 grand slam wins moves him one ahead of Australian Roy Emerson and into third on the all-time list behind Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14).
Nadal, who won the 2010 US Open in a final against Djokovic and then lost their finals rematch in 2011, improved his hard court record to a spotless 22-0 this year and his overall match record to a sensational 60-3.
“I never thought something like this could happen,” said the 27-year-old, 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.”
Luck has accounted for a very small sliver of his remarkable season.
Since rejoining the Tour in February, Nadal has reached the finals in 12 of his 13 tournaments, winning 10 of them.
The match was a Tour-record setting 37th meeting between the two rivals, eclipsing the 36 clashes between John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl. Nadal improved his lead in their series to 22-15.
The left-hander from Mallorca collected prize money of $2.6 million.
Nadal also pocketed an extra $1 million for having topped the standings in the US Open run-up series of events, matching the $3.6 million haul of women’s tournament winner Serena Williams.
The duo have staged some of the most memorable tennis matches in recent seasons, with Djokovic winning a six-hour tilt in the 2012 Australian Open final, and Nadal claiming a classic semi-final win this year at Roland Garros by 9-7 in the fifth set.
The quality of tennis rose throughout Monday’s match, translating into long rallies, brilliant defense and booming winners that had the centre court on their feet roaring their appreciation.
Among the host of celebrities and public figures watching the game, Queen Sofia of Spain was on hand to cheer on Nadal.
Murray seals his spot
Andy Murray joined Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal as definite qualifiers for the ATP World Tour finals yesterday but Roger Federer faces a battle to make the eight-man field.
Despite falling at the quarter-final stage in his defence of the US Open last week, Murray is third in the race to London and guaranteed a spot at the season-ending tournament.
Murray has flourished on home soil this year, becoming the first British male since Fred Perry in 1936 to win Wimbledon.
Federer has been an ever-present at the Tour finals since 2002 but he is at risk of missing out this time.
The Swiss is seventh on the Race to London rankings, just 130 points ahead of compatriot Stanislas Waw-rinka and Frenchman Richard Gasquet also closing in.