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Nadal completes grand slam
Source: Agencies |
September 15, 2010, Wednesday
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BY winning the US Open for the first time and completing his collection of grand slam titles, Rafael Nadal solved one riddle and posed another.
His 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic in Monday's rain-interrupted final at Flushing Meadows ensured the Spaniard joined the pantheon of tennis greats and resolved beyond any reasonable doubt just who is the best player in the world today.
But the argument over who is the greatest of all time has once again been sparked and could rage for years.
"I think talking about if I am better or worse than Roger (Federer) is stupid," he said. "Because the titles say he's much better than me, so that's true at that moment. I think that will be true all my life."
Federer, 29, has a record 16 grand slam championships, but the 24-year-old Nadal made his ninth grand slam triumph something extra special.
His first Flushing Meadows win made Nadal the seventh man to claim all four of the sport's grand slam titles, and the first since Rod Laver 41 years ago to close a season with wins at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US championship.
Nadal's New York performance made a huge statement. After piling up five French Opens, two Wimbledons and an Australian Open the hard-hitting left-hander had set his sights firmly on the final jewel in the grand slam crown.
He improved his serve, honed his volley and nurtured his fitness to triumph at a Federer stronghold where the Swiss had won five titles and reached six successive finals.
"It was an amazing feeling," beemed Nadal. "I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure. To win in here in the US Open I think is the more difficult tournament for me to play, more difficult conditions to adapt, to adjust my game on this court, for the balls, for the court, for everything."
With Nadal sweeping through the slams, it is easy to forget the turnaround the Spaniard has made.
Last year his chronic knee problems were so bad it kept him from defending his Wimbledon title. An abdominal problem weakened him at the US Open, and his physical woes were so bad he quit his quarterfinal at the Australian Open in January.
"Life changes sometimes, no?" said a philosophical Nadal. "Ten months ago (it) seemed like I was never gonna be the same. Now, seems I gonna be one of the greatest.... When you come back, you are ready to value how difficult it is win titles and how difficult is to be there all the time."
Nadal understands how quickly things can change in tennis and in life, but he served his rivals a dire warning in addressing the state of his game.
"For me the most important thing is try to keep serving like I did during this tournament," said Nadal, who lost only one set in the championship.
"If I can do it, it is gonna be a big change for me and my tennis career, because if I have those free points that I had during all this tournament, (it's) gonna be different for me."
His 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Novak Djokovic in Monday's rain-interrupted final at Flushing Meadows ensured the Spaniard joined the pantheon of tennis greats and resolved beyond any reasonable doubt just who is the best player in the world today.
But the argument over who is the greatest of all time has once again been sparked and could rage for years.
"I think talking about if I am better or worse than Roger (Federer) is stupid," he said. "Because the titles say he's much better than me, so that's true at that moment. I think that will be true all my life."
Federer, 29, has a record 16 grand slam championships, but the 24-year-old Nadal made his ninth grand slam triumph something extra special.
His first Flushing Meadows win made Nadal the seventh man to claim all four of the sport's grand slam titles, and the first since Rod Laver 41 years ago to close a season with wins at the French Open, Wimbledon and the US championship.
Nadal's New York performance made a huge statement. After piling up five French Opens, two Wimbledons and an Australian Open the hard-hitting left-hander had set his sights firmly on the final jewel in the grand slam crown.
He improved his serve, honed his volley and nurtured his fitness to triumph at a Federer stronghold where the Swiss had won five titles and reached six successive finals.
"It was an amazing feeling," beemed Nadal. "I played my best match in the US Open at the most important moment, so I am very, very happy for that, for sure. To win in here in the US Open I think is the more difficult tournament for me to play, more difficult conditions to adapt, to adjust my game on this court, for the balls, for the court, for everything."
With Nadal sweeping through the slams, it is easy to forget the turnaround the Spaniard has made.
Last year his chronic knee problems were so bad it kept him from defending his Wimbledon title. An abdominal problem weakened him at the US Open, and his physical woes were so bad he quit his quarterfinal at the Australian Open in January.
"Life changes sometimes, no?" said a philosophical Nadal. "Ten months ago (it) seemed like I was never gonna be the same. Now, seems I gonna be one of the greatest.... When you come back, you are ready to value how difficult it is win titles and how difficult is to be there all the time."
Nadal understands how quickly things can change in tennis and in life, but he served his rivals a dire warning in addressing the state of his game.
"For me the most important thing is try to keep serving like I did during this tournament," said Nadal, who lost only one set in the championship.
"If I can do it, it is gonna be a big change for me and my tennis career, because if I have those free points that I had during all this tournament, (it's) gonna be different for me."
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