US Open 2019: Rafael Nadal wins epic US Open final

Rafael Nadal has won his fourth title at Flushing Meadows, defeating Daniil Medvedev in an epic final.

Rafael Nadal will forever be the King of Clay but the Spaniard has confirmed himself a New York legend after claiming a fourth US Open final in stunning circumstances.

The Spanish superstar closed to within one major singles title of Roger Federer after defeating Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 in a phenomenal final that lasted 4hr 50m.

It was resplendent with great shotmaking, superb variety, remarkable drama and plot twists galore.

Nadal collapsed to the ground after a Medvedev final shot floated beyond the baseline, lying triumphant and relieved for several seconds before embracing a rival who enhanced his reputation as an emerging star of the sport.

Nadal celebrates during the final. Picture: Getty Images

Daniil Medvedev. Picture: Getty Images

He was in tears as he awaited the trophy presentation, drained after a highly physical, emotional battle to succeed.

Nadal has now won a fifth grand slam title in his 30s, passing the deeds of Federer and Djokovic.

A fourth US Open title draws him level with John McEnroe, while Federer, Pete Sampras and Jimmy Connors have five.

“It is difficult to speak. It has been one of the most emotional nights in my career,” he said.

“(This) is so important for me. The victory means a lot and especially the way the match became so difficult, so tough, I was able to halt the nerves because the nerves were so high.

“It has been a crazy match. I am just emotional … sorry.”

The Spaniard paid tribute to his rival, who will move to a ranking of four behind Djokovic, Nadal and Federer.

“It has been an amazing final. Honestly, (the) first word I have to say is to Daniil,” he said.

“His summer is one of the best summers I have ever seen on this sport since I was playing.

“Tonight everyone saw why he is the No 4 player in the world already at only 23, so congratulations.

“The way he was able to fight, to change the rhythm of the match was just incredible.”

He also sent commiserations to former Moroccan player Karim Alami, whose son recently died.

Medvedev showed humour and class in his acceptance speech. He paid tribute to the extraordinary Spaniard, saying he was an inspiration.

“What you have done for tennis in general, I think 100 million kids watching you play want to play tennis, so congrats once again,” he said.

He also acknowledged the hate-love relationship with the crowd over the past fortnight.

“I said earlier in the tournament something in a bad way but now I am saying it in a good way. It is because of your energy I am in the final,” he said.

“You were booing me for a reason. You guys see that I can always change. I am a human being. I can make mistakes. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”

The Russian had proven a pantomime villain throughout the opening week at Flushing Meadows when booed relentlessly by the New York crowd.

By the fourth set of the final, they were chanting his name in unison amid an inspired comeback that fell only marginally shy of being truly remarkable.

None of the drama seemed likely to occur when Nadal appeared to be on his way to a regulation victory after breaking the Russian to lead the third set 3-2.

Only once in 208 grand slam matches had the Spaniard fallen after claiming the first two sets, with Fabio Fognini owning that distinction in New York back in 2015.

But Medvedev, who has proven resilient all summer, did his best to become the second man when producing a breathtaking performance to roar back into the match.

Federer is the only other player to manage to force a decider against Nadal after falling two sets behind, doing so in their epic at Wimbledon in 2008.

The Russian had entered his first grand slam final as the only man apart from Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi to reach deciders in Washington DC, Montreal, Cincinnati and New York in succession.

Nadal broke down after the match. Picture: Getty Images

Nadal’s victory is his fourth US Open title. Picture: Getty Images

The right-hander’s style is somewhat ungainly when compared to the beautiful manner with which a Federer or Grigor Dimitrov strike the ball.

In terms of physique, Medvedev resembles a surfboard. Flat. Long. And skinny.

He has none of the rippled tone of his rival, whose left biceps was pumping each time he thundered a winner.

Yet his effectiveness could scarcely be questioned. No player had won more matches this season heading into the final and it held him in good stead in his maiden grand slam decider.

Nick Kyrgios, who trumped him in the Washington DC final, described his approach as almost robotic, such is Medvedev’s ability to produce time and again.

Nor can there be any denying his appetite for the contest after the immense challenge he issued to Nadal.

His method had all the hallmarks of his effort to down Novak Djokovic in a semi-final in Cincinnati last month, with the 23-year-old going for broke and producing breathtaking winners time and again.

The Muscovite finally conceded a pivotal break when serving at 2-all in the decider when unable to produce enough off a heavily-sliced Nadal backhand to trouble the Spaniard on his next shot.

Daniil Medvedev. Picture: AFP

But that was not the end of the theatre.

Nadal was twice issued with time violations in the deciding set on major points, with a double-fault following the second as he trying to serve out the championship at 5-2.

The reprieve prompted further fight from Medvedev, who saved two match points in the following service game to force the champion to step to the baseline for another attempt to close it out.

Nadal’s triumph is astonishing. At 33 and having endured a litany of significant injuries, he remains as hungry as ever for success.

It is his first win over a top five ranked rival in New York since his success over Djokovic in the 2013 final, which was the second of his four crowns in Queens.

As remarkable a performer as the left-hander has proven on clay, Nadal is far more than a clay court genius, with his brilliance at the net equally astounding.

One of the great races in sport is well and truly alive heading into 2020, with the legends of the sport to resume their rivalry on the hardcourts of Melbourne next January.

Federer, a 20-time grand slam winning Swiss superstar, is now being rapidly reeled in by Nadal and Djokovic.

After the Swiss star’s resurgence that included successive Australian Open crowns and an eighth Wimbledon crowd, Djokovic and Nadal have shared the honours at grand slam level this year with two titles apiece.

The most recent streak of dominance by the Big Three in men’s tennis now has spread the past 12 grand slam events and dates back to Stan Wawrinka’s triumph in New York in 2016.

The last first-time winner of a major was Croatian Marin Cilic, who prevailed at Flushing Meadows two years prior to Wawrinka’s triumph.