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    Nadal beats surprise finalist Anderson to win US Open for his 16th Grand Slam title

    Synopsis

    ​​Nadal, back at No. 1 at age 31, underscored his resurgence by defeating Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in a US Open singles final on Sunday.

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    It was also his first title in a hardcourt tournament since winning in Doha, Qatar, in January 2014.
    By Christopher Clarey

    They did the time warp again on Sunday. It has been that sort of season in men’s tennis. Scar tissue? What scar tissue? Creaky knees, wrists and confidence? Banish the demons and roll back the years. So it went at the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon, and so it went at the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament, as Rafael Nadal completed a 50-50 split of the 2017 loot with Roger Federer.

    Nadal, back at No. 1 at age 31, underscored his resurgence by defeating Kevin Anderson of South Africa, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in a US Open singles final on Sunday that was no surprise at this late stage of this tennis revival.

    “I was surprised in January — now I am not that much surprised, no?” said Nadal, left eyebrow, as ever, arching, referring to his Australian Open final against Federer.

    Nadal claimed his third U.S. Open championship and his first since 2013. It was also his first title in a hardcourt tournament since winning in Doha, Qatar, in January 2014. But Nadal, with his innate competitive streak, is much more about confronting today’s challenges than obsessing over the past, and this triumphant season has been a testimony to his uncommon resilience and drive.

    Like the 36-year-old Federer, his past and present rival, Nadal has re-emerged at the highest level after an injury layoff. Like Federer, Nadal has won two Grand Slam singles titles this year. Brad Gilbert, the veteran coach and serial nicknamer, labeled it “the Fedal Slam” on Sunday, but whatever the label, the contents have provided tennis fans with plenty of diversion for the past eight months.

    Federer beat Nadal in five sets to claim the Australian Open and then won Wimbledon before losing in the quarterfinals at the U.S. Open to Juan Martín del Potro. Nadal won an unprecedented 10th French Open in June and has now taken the US Open.

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    “For me personally, it’s just unbelievable what happened to me this year after a couple of years with some troubles: injuries, moments playing not good,” Nadal said in the postmatch ceremony on Sunday.

    “From the beginning of the season, it has been very emotional.”

    It has been a throwback season in part — but only in part — because of the physical problems of Nadal’s and Federer’s traditional rivals. None of the three men who won major titles in 2016 — Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka — were able to play in this year’s U.S. Open because of injuries. Murray’s late withdrawal because of hip pain opened up the bottom half of the draw, from which the 28th-seeded Anderson emerged.

    “I thought I was hitting the ball very well,” Anderson said. “It was more the conundrum of playing Rafa as opposed to being in my first final.”

    Nadal can be quite a puzzle. Anderson, who stands 6 feet 8 inches tall and who has also returned to prominence this year after injury, was the tallest player to reach a major singles final.

    But Nadal kept him constantly off balance and out of position with his whipping shots, ferocious defense and adroit shot making. Nadal also served superbly, facing no break points, and put Anderson under constant pressure on his own service games.

    - The New York Times


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