Nadal wins second US Open title
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E-mail China.org.cn, September 10, 2013
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Nadal takes down Djokovic to win U.S. Open. |
Playing in the men's singles title for the third time in four years, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic delivered another instant classic, with the Spaniard prevailing in four breathtaking sets, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. The title is the second US Open crown of Nadal's esteemed career, which now features 13 Grand Slam singles titles -- third all-time behind only Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14).
This was their 37th match against each other, the most between any two men in the Open era, and third head-to-head US Open final in the last four years. Nadal beat Djokovic for the 2010 title, and Djokovic won their rematch in 2011.
As expected, the match felt more like a heavyweight fight than a tennis match. The two men were quite familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the other, each prepared for the grueling physical challenge that awaited Monday night.
The match turned in the third set. Serving at 4-all in the set, Nadal fell behind 0-40, slipping and falling after the second point while trying to go after a Djokovic forehand in the corner. But on the verge of losing the game, Nadal came up with a big forehand winner, then took a point on a 22-shot rally and hit his first ace of the match.
From there, he cruised in the final set, winning eight of the match's last nine games to secure a 2013 title to go alongside the championship he won in 2010.
With the victory, Nadal improves to 22-0 on hard courts this year and matches the record payday won by Serena Williams on Sunday -- $3.6 million, $2.6 million as the US Open champion and $1 million in bonus prize money as the Emirates Airline US Open Series champion.
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