Rafael Nadal

[Damian]

Nadal Sprints To Third US Open Crown

Spoiler:

Spaniard claims 16th Grand Slam title
Mission accomplished. Rafael Nadal completed a dominant run to his 16th Grand Slam championship, notching a third US Open title at Flushing Meadows. The top seed defeated Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in Sunday's final.
In 2013, Nadal entered the US Open at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and would emerge with the trophy. Four years later, history repeated itself. The top-ranked Spaniard prevailed in two hours and 27 minutes over the South African, adding to titles won in 2010 and '13.
Nadal, who extends his growing lead in the Emirates ATP Race To London to 1,860 points, caps an impressive Grand Slam campaign with his second major victory of 2017 (Roland Garros). The win gives him the upper hand in the fight for year-end No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings with Roger Federer.
"It's been a very special two weeks for me," Nadal told ESPN in his post-match interview. "But before I talk about me, I want to say congrats to Kevin. He's a great example for a lot of kids and the rest of the tour to come back better than ever.
"For me, personally it's unbelievable. After a couple of years with some injury problems, it has been very emotional since the beginning of the season. Since the Australian Open, I've been playing a very high level of tennis. Winning here in New York gives me great energy, because the crowd is unbelievable. They make me feel so happy."
"Rafa is one of the greatest ambassadors in our sport, so congrats to him," Anderson said in his post-match interview with ESPN. "It's been an amazing two weeks for me. To make my first final of a Grand Slam has really been special. I can take a lot of positive from this summer. A lot of emotions to deal with. I was up against a pretty good opponent today. I'll continue working hard to give myself more opportunities. I'll take it a day at a time and I'm really pleased with how things turned out here."
Open Era US Open Title Leaders
Player Titles
Years Won
Jimmy Connors
5 1974, 1976, 1978, 1982-83
Roger Federer
5 2004-08
Pete Sampras
5 1990, 1993, 1995-96, 2002
John McEnroe
4
1979-81, 1984
Ivan Lendl
3 1985-87
Rafael Nadal
3 2010, 2013, 2017
In total, the resurgent Spaniard has won five tour-level titles this year, the most for him since 2013 when he captured 10. It was also his first hard-court victory since the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha in 2014.
Nadal turned in a ruthless race to the finish against Juan Martin del Potro on Friday and he would carry the momentum on Sunday. Relying on his superior agility from the back of the court and biding his time before attacking with great depth, the Spaniard employed an efficient and clinical gameplan on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Ruthless Rafa: How Nadal Won The US Open Title
With celebrities Rupert Murdoch, Jerry Seinfeld, Hilary Swank, Tony Bennett, Bill Gates and Tiger Woods in attendance, Nadal broke for 4-3 in the first and never looked back, striking a backhand winner to close out the opener. He would continue to press forward in the second set, slamming aside a volley winner to move ahead 4-2, and opened the third with yet another break.
Nadal raised his arms in triumph on his second match point, moving forward for a serve-and-volley winner. He prevailed after two hours and 27 minutes, firing 30 winners to just 11 unforced errors. He won 16 of 16 net points in total, while not facing a break point.
All-Time Grand Slam Title Leaders
Player Titles
Roger Federer
19
Rafael Nadal
16
Pete Sampras
14
Novak Djokovic
12
Roy Emerson
12
"It has been a great two weeks," Nadal told the assembled media. "Increasing level of tennis and increasing confidence during that two weeks. I have this trophy with me again here in New York. It means a lot to me. There is no better way to finish the Grand Slam season for me after a very emotional season in all aspects.
"So I'm very happy the way that I played, happy the way that I managed the pressure and the way that I was competing during the whole event. Playing better or worse, the competitive spirit has been there in a very positive way all the time."
The victory marks the first time in Nadal's career in which he has rallied from a set down in three matches en route to a title. He battled hard throughout the two weeks in the Big Apple, coming back to overcome Taro Daniel in the second round, Leonardo Mayer in the third round and del Potro in the semi-finals.
Nadal and Federer have turned back the clock in 2017, combining to divide and conquer the four Grand Slam championships. It marks the fourth time it has happened, in addition to 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Anderson, meanwhile, caps a dream fortnight in reaching his first major final. He became the first South African to reach a Grand Slam title match since Kevin Curren at the 1984 Australian Open. The 31 year old is also the oldest first-time finalist since Nikola Pilic at Roland Garros in 1973.
Anderson is projected to rise to No. 15 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, behind victories over home hope Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals and 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta in the semis. It was his second final of the American hard-court summer, adding to a runner-up result at the Citi Open in Washington.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/us- ... l-anderson

[Lucas]

Rafael Nadal Final Interview

Spoiler:

Q. Congratulations. Such a great summer for you. Two Grand Slam titles. We all know these numbers. If you can reflect on what it means, 31 is not old, but as you said, it's not as easy as your 20s. Can you reflect on this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Very happy, no? Been a great two weeks. Increasing level of tennis, increasing of confidence during that two weeks. Yeah, I have this trophy with me again here in New York. Means a lot to me, no? There is no better way to finish the Grand Slam season for me after a very emotional season in all aspects.
So very happy the way that I played, happy the way that I managed the pressure, and the way that I was competing during the whole event, no? Playing better or worse, the competitive spirit have been there in a very positive way all the time.
Q. I don't think I have ever seen you as calm as you were tonight in a Grand Slam final, even in the first set, there were a lot of deuce games, a lot of break points. I mean, when you didn't win them, you didn't seem frustrated. There was no body language. How did you get so calm?
RAFAEL NADAL: No, I was not calm, no? I was nervous, but all the body language that is not in a positive way is stupid to make it, because it's going against you, no?
Is one of the things that I tried to do all my life that the body language helps me, not go against me, no? Because is one of the things that depends just on me, not on the opponent, no? Was not the day to have negative body language. Completely the opposite. Just to accept all the moments.
You know when you play a Grand Slam final that you gonna be nervous, you're gonna miss probably some opportunities with break points. I missed a couple of returns. He played well. But that's part of the game.
I have ready to accept all these moments and to, as I said before, to compete well all the tournament.
Q. If, at the beginning of the year, they had asked you if it was more probable that you win two Slams or Roger Federer wins two Slams, what would have been more improbable for you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I answered these questions a couple of times. No, no, no. When you start the season, for all the players is tough to win two Grand Slams. That's the real thing. For everybody is tough to win at least one Grand Slam. There is only four chances on every year, and there is a lot of players that have chances. There is a lot of tough opponents out there. But somebody have to win Grand Slams too, no?
Q. After what happened last year...
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, what happened last year, I tell you what happened last year. I was ready to win Roland Garros last year. That's the real thing. I don't say if I don't get injury, I will win Roland Garros, because is something that is impossible to predict, but I really and honestly can tell you that I felt myself ready to win Roland Garros, because I was playing well. But of course when you get injury, then seems like the season is a disaster.
But the real disaster of last year was the injuries. Because the level of tennis, when I was playing after Indian Wells, was good in almost all the events, no?
Of course is something difficult to imagine eight months ago or nine months ago that we will be winning two Grand Slams each.
But here we are, and just can say thanks to life for that opportunity. I think I did the right work. I believed on the work, on the diary work all the time. I still believe on these things to improve, and I wake up every morning with the passion to go on court and to try to improve things. Probably that's why I still have chances to compete in this sport and to do it well. That's all.
Q. With what you went through last year and what you have accomplished this year, how do you think you'll remember this year?
RAFAEL NADAL: Yeah, of course is a very special year, no? Couple of years without winning Slams, couple of years with problems. 2016, 2014 have been years that I had injuries and tough ones in the middle of the season, so that's impossible to recover in the same year. And 2015 was not injuries, physical injuries. Was mental injury (smiling).
Yeah, was tough year for me, but is true 2015 I finished playing the year great again. So was a year that helps.
But of course after couple of years without competing at this very high, high level, very happy to be back and emotional year for you, and as I said before, no, just can say thanks to all the people that helps me every day. I have a great team and a great family that supports me and believe in me, and that's a great help. Without them, of course is not impossible but almost.
Q. One of the things that happened this year with all these surprising events that your rivalry with Roger is again big news, and you're very close again in a Grand Slam count. Could you just say how important this is to you and just the rivalry in general, but also, perhaps, catching and surpassing Roger in that regard?
RAFAEL NADAL: I really never thought much about that. I just do my way. He does his way. Let's see when we finish, no?
Of course if I will win two Grand Slams this year and he will not win, we'll be closer, but it still happens one more year and he has 19, I think. I have 16. So three is big difference.
I really don't think much about these kind of things. As I said before, I do my way. I'm very happy with all the things that are happening to me, win this title again. I have this trophy with me.
Is so important, winning on hard court again. That's a lot of positive energy for me. Being healthy, you see everything more possible, no? With injuries, everything seems impossible. But being healthy and have the chance to practice well and compete well, everything change.
But is true that I have 31, I don't have 25, but I still have the passion and the love for the game. I still want to compete and still feel the nerves every time that I go on court. Until that things keep happening, I will be here.
When some day arrives that I don't feel that nerves or that extra passion for the game that I feel, will be the day to say, okay, I do another thing.
But that's all. No, no. Well done for Roger that he is having an amazing season too and well done for me because I'm having a great season too. Let's see what happens until the season and that's it. The rest of the things -- tennis is not all the Grand Slams, so there is tournaments to come and I'm excited about this last part of the season.
Q. Does that mean the rivalry isn't as important to you as some people make it?
RAFAEL NADAL: Of course this rivalry have been important for our sport, in my opinion. That involved a lot of people, and because of different styles, different characters, and we played for the most important things for such a long time, I think that was the great promotion for our sport. In a positive way, I think, because our relationship has always been very respectful, and friendly.
So, yeah, is great. I feel happy to be part of this rivalry, but at the same time, I played even more matches with Novak than with Roger in such important matches, too.
In my career, I have been involved on different rivalries. I feel lucky to be part of all of them in some way. In another way, I have been in an era that three players achieve 19, 16 and 12. That's a lot, no? There is a remarkable part of the history of our sport. So that means was difficult for everybody to win titles in this part of the, in this era.
Q. Do you know for sure whether you'll need a new coach? Your uncle is retiring.
RAFAEL NADAL: I have three coaches, so... Still two without my uncle.
Q. You will go forward with two or you don't know?
RAFAEL NADAL: Toni, I think he gonna stop and gonna put more attention on the academy. That would be great for my academy, and will be great for the kids.
Doesn't mean that never -- that doesn't mean that Toni will not travel anymore never. No, no, I believe that will be stupid to say that.
But of course he will not be in the diary of my practices and of my travels. I have two coaches already after him, that is Carlos and Francis and let's see if I need something else to helps, but I think in my academy, I have enough people to help, and I happy with the team that I have.
Q. You didn't face a single break point the entire match. Was that more you or more Kevin?
RAFAEL NADAL: As I said, always is a balance of everything. Kevin was trying to play aggressive during the whole match. I think I was serving solid until the last two games that I was more nervous and I served worse.
The rest of the match I think I served solid with good percentage and having taken advantage all the time, no?
I don't know if is him or me, is a combination of both things always, no? But I think I played the right match, the match that I have to play. I put a lot of balls in. I let him play all the time, and that was my goal, no? To try to have long rallies, to try to have long points, because he will try to play short.
But of course if the ball is going over the net couple of times helps, because he gets more tired. He's taller. His movements are a little bit worse than my ones. That was the goal for me, no, to take advantage and try to move him. Is long match, best of five, so that helps probably a little bit more me than him, playing best of five than best of three.
Yeah, the first set was important for me, of course, after a lot of games that he had chances to lose the serve. He was holding, and finally he missed that forehand with the 3-All. That changed the rest of the match, because if you get to 5-All in the first set or tiebreak, playing against a big server like him, you are in trouble, no? But having that break before and keep going and convert the set, first set was so important for me.
Q. Can you talk a little bit more about how significant this title is? Because it is on hard court, what it means.
RAFAEL NADAL: For me is important because is the US Open (smiling). More than if because is in hard or doesn't matter the surface. I win one of the most important events of the year.
Is true that I was not winning titles on hard for some time, but as I say the other day, is not that I was playing bad on hard. I played the final in Australia. I played the final in Acapulco, final in Miami. Ready to win titles. Didn't happen, is true.
It happened today. So very happy for that, and the US Open is an amazing event. The energy that this city and this court brings to me is unbelievable, no?
I feel very connected with them, and I enjoy the passion that I feel in that court.
Q. Congratulations. Great performance. I do want to ask you, in relationship to Roger, he came to your academy last November to help open it. You were ranked 9 and 17, and now you have gone on to win all four Slams. Does that surprise you in some way? And secondly, what do you think the call is that you both have that have been there to lift our game and to be so strong for so many years?
RAFAEL NADAL: Of course I am surprised. I was surprised in January. Now I am not that much surprised, no?
You know, I tell you, no, after the first two, three months of the season, of course you see that I am playing well, and if I am playing well on clay, I normally gonna have my chances. Of course he was playing great, so of course he will have his chances on grass and on hard later, like he had here.
So, yeah, of course is surprise some time ago. Now a little bit less. And there is just two things that probably we share, that is passion for what we are doing, passion for tennis, passion for the competition, and the spirit of improvement all the time.
Q. On paper this might not have been your most successful season, although it's pretty up there, considering it's only August. But compared to other seasons, considering all you have overcome with injuries, considering that Toni, this was his last season after 28 years, how meaningful has this year been and this particular tournament, as well, knowing it's the last time officially you'll look up into your player's box and see him there?
RAFAEL NADAL: I think it was, in terms of results, was one of the best seasons of my career, of course. I have been winning titles, playing three finals of Grand Slams, so that's a lot, no? That's so difficult. The other slam that I was not in the final, I lost the match 15-13 in the fifth to be in the quarterfinals, no. So was very competitive year for me.
And on clay, I won almost every match. Of course is an emotional season because I have been through tough moments in terms of injuries.
But that's like this. I think I always accepted all the challenges that my career present to me. The good news and the negative news, I accepted in some way in a very natural way, and I am a person that I don't have much up-and-downs. I am a very normal person, and when I am in a negative moment, I don't go very down. When I am in a positive moment, probably like now, I don't believe that I am that good, no?
So I think I'm a natural person, normal person, and accept the things that life presents me. Try to go forward, no? That's it. That's the only way. When you are in a good way, be calm to have the chance to keep improving, and when you are in a negative way, just keep working to try to work on that situations. That's all.
Q. Pete Sampras announced his retirement in this very room back in 2003, and the thinking at the time was nobody would ever really touch his 14 slams. Along comes a generation, three players that are now in double digits and two that have surpassed Pete. Can you talk a little bit about what makes this generation so special? What are the qualities, especially with the three of you?
RAFAEL NADAL: I was telling that when we were talking about Roger and me. I said, you know, there is another player, Novak Djokovic, has 12, and probably he will be competing for many more, no?
Yeah, a little bit similar thing that I answered before, no? I think we had the spirit of improvement all the time, passion for what we are doing, and we have been hard workers in general terms, because we were not playing with up-and-downs. We have been there almost every week for a lot of years. That's difficult to make it happen. That's difficult to find some players in the same generation that achieve all the things that we achieved.
Yeah, we are in an era that is not nice to say, because I'm part of it, but we are in an era that some players make incredible things in this sport, no?
Yeah, happy to be part of it, and I feel lucky to be part of it and enjoying the fact that I have been involved in some way in the two rivalries. That is amazing, no? Because I think nobody played more matches against each other like Novak and I and with Roger, because we competed for such a long time for first and second sport and competed for most important events, have been so special because of combination of styles, too.
Yeah, is great, and in the same time, have been a difficult moment to win a lot of titles, but in some way, we should be very happy, no? Because our three, we still won a lot of things, and probably even Roger and me or Novak even much more than we ever dreamed. We feel very happy about all the things that happened to us, and probably everybody, we feel lucky in some way.

http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... tml?chip=0

[Lucas]

19 - Roger Federer

16 - Rafael Nadal

14 - Pete Sampras,

12 - Roy Emerson, Novak Djoković

11 - Bjorn Borg, Rod Laver

10 - Bill Tilden

[Lucas]

Trochę jednak ulga, że wpadły te dwa szlemy, bo Djokovic był niebezpiecznie blisko. Jestem ciekawy jaka będzie dyspozycja Serba w kolejnym sezonie i czy wpadnie mu szczęśliwa 13-stka.

Rafie brakuje jeszcze dwa latka do "pełnoletniości", ale nawet jeśli pozostanie szesnastolatkiem to i tak piękne osiągnięcie.

[Lucas]

RAFAEL NADAL’S 16TH SLAM WAS A FITTING FINAL TRIBUTE TO HIS UNCLE TONI

Spoiler:

They say you should never underestimate the heart of a champion. As Rafael Nadal showed in his flawlessly controlled 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson in the US Open final on Sunday, you should never underestimate the unorthodox tactical decisions of a champion, either, no matter how often they’re questioned on TV or mocked on Twitter.

From the start, Nadal moved back as far as he possibly could to return the 6’8” Anderson’s powerful serve. Rafa was parked about a foot in front of the line judges, and on television he was little more than a black dot at the bottom of the screen. But as usual with Nadal, what looked like a dangerous ceding of territory was in reality a tactical retreat. It paid dividends right way, and would earn Rafa all the service breaks he needed—four in all.

By giving himself extra time and getting as many balls back as possible, Nadal made Anderson work, and work, and work some more to hold. Through four games, Anderson had played 13 deuce points on his serve, and he found himself mired in two games that lasted 10 or more minutes. To borrow a baseball phrase, that’s a high pitch count; any time you’re serving, you’re doing a lot more work than your opponent, especially if he’s holding easily as Nadal was today (he was never broken).

By the seventh game, Anderson was breathing hard and missing shots he normally wouldn’t miss. When he pulled a forehand wide at break point, the competitive part of the afternoon was essentially over.

“I think I played the right match, the match that I have to play,” Nadal said. “I put a lot of balls in. I let him play all the time, and that was my goal, no? To try to have long rallies, to try to have long points, because he will try to play short.

“Finally he missed that forehand with the 3-all. That changed the rest of the match.”

If Nadal’s returning was smart, his serving was close to perfect. Can you be a serve-bot—i.e., a Karlovic, or an Isner or a Raonic—while hitting just one ace? In 14 service games, Rafa didn’t face a break point, and only in the final game did Anderson push him to deuce. Anderson said he struggled to adapt to Nadal’s left-handed delivery, but this performance was also the result of a revamped serving philosophy that new coach Carlos Moya brought in when he joined Nadal’s team this year. Instead of pounding everything to his opponent’s backhand side, Rafa began to mix up his speeds, spins and locations. It made a major—literally—difference in his season: Nadal did some of his best serving at the two Slams he won, in New York and Paris.

But that wasn’t the only place where Nadal showed off a veteran’s versalitity at the Open. From one match to the next, he put together and executed entirely different game plans. In his semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro on Friday, Nadal was forced to open up the court, go on the attack, and take risks; the result was his most dazzling shot-making display since the French Open. On Sunday, Nadal went in the opposite direction. Against Anderson, he played conservative, lockdown, don’t-do-anything-stupid tennis. But he didn’t just push the ball back in the court. Rafa finished with 30 winners and 11 errors, and he was a sparkling 16 for 16 at net. On the flip side, virtually every time Anderson ventured forward, Nadal dipped a passing shot at the big man’s feet; Anderson was just 16 of 34 at net.

“Rafa made it very difficult for me tonight,” Anderson said. “I felt he got a lot of returns back...I think he had a pretty good read on my serve.”

Anderson said the biggest problem for him wasn’t major-final nerves; it was the “conundrum” of playing Rafa. If he had won, it would have ranked among the most stunning upsets in US Open history. Even so, Anderson’s two-week run was impressive. At the advanced age of 31, he tapped into a more aggressive side of his personality, but he couldn’t fist-pump his way past the original fist-pumper.

“I know we’re the same age,” Anderson said in a trophy-ceremony tribute to Nadal, “but I feel like I’ve been watching you my whole life.” He said Rafa was one of his idols, and that he has made a great ambassador for the sport. The same, as this speech made clear, can be said for Big Kev, and it was good to see the gentlemanly South African take an unexpected turn in the spotlight.

In his press conference later, Anderson said something else interesting about what makes Nadal unique.

“I have seen so many times where he’s able to play every single point at such a high intensity,” Anderson said. “A lot of guys sometimes, you know, you might see them get angry at a line call and suddenly they start playing better tennis. I have never seen him—some external factor and suddenly he’s bringing better tennis. He brings that high energy every single point.”

Nadal would echo those thoughts a few minutes later, when he was asked how he had stayed so calm.

“I was not calm, no?” Nadal said. “I was nevous, but all the body language that is not in a positive way is stupid to make it, because it’s going to be against you, no?”

“Is one of the things that I tried to do all my life that the body language helps me, not go against me, no? Because is one of the things that depends just on me, not on the opponent, no? Was not the day to have negative body language. Completely the opposite...I have [to be] ready to accept all these moments to compete well all the tournament.”


Tennis Channel's exclusive interview with 2017 US Open champion Rafael Nadal

NEW YORK—They say you should never underestimate the heart of a champion. As Rafael Nadal showed in his flawlessly controlled 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson in the US Open final on Sunday, you should never underestimate the unorthodox tactical decisions of a champion, either, no matter how often they’re questioned on TV or mocked on Twitter.

From the start, Nadal moved back as far as he possibly could to return the 6’8” Anderson’s powerful serve. Rafa was parked about a foot in front of the line judges, and on television he was little more than a black dot at the bottom of the screen. But as usual with Nadal, what looked like a dangerous ceding of territory was in reality a tactical retreat. It paid dividends right way, and would earn Rafa all the service breaks he needed—four in all.

By giving himself extra time and getting as many balls back as possible, Nadal made Anderson work, and work, and work some more to hold. Through four games, Anderson had played 13 deuce points on his serve, and he found himself mired in two games that lasted 10 or more minutes. To borrow a baseball phrase, that’s a high pitch count; any time you’re serving, you’re doing a lot more work than your opponent, especially if he’s holding easily as Nadal was today (he was never broken).

By the seventh game, Anderson was breathing hard and missing shots he normally wouldn’t miss. When he pulled a forehand wide at break point, the competitive part of the afternoon was essentially over.

“I think I played the right match, the match that I have to play,” Nadal said. “I put a lot of balls in. I let him play all the time, and that was my goal, no? To try to have long rallies, to try to have long points, because he will try to play short.

“Finally he missed that forehand with the 3-all. That changed the rest of the match.”

If Nadal’s returning was smart, his serving was close to perfect. Can you be a serve-bot—i.e., a Karlovic, or an Isner or a Raonic—while hitting just one ace? In 14 service games, Rafa didn’t face a break point, and only in the final game did Anderson push him to deuce. Anderson said he struggled to adapt to Nadal’s left-handed delivery, but this performance was also the result of a revamped serving philosophy that new coach Carlos Moya brought in when he joined Nadal’s team this year. Instead of pounding everything to his opponent’s backhand side, Rafa began to mix up his speeds, spins and locations. It made a major—literally—difference in his season: Nadal did some of his best serving at the two Slams he won, in New York and Paris.


Who is the ATP player of the year?

But that wasn’t the only place where Nadal showed off a veteran’s versalitity at the Open. From one match to the next, he put together and executed entirely different game plans. In his semifinal win over Juan Martin del Potro on Friday, Nadal was forced to open up the court, go on the attack, and take risks; the result was his most dazzling shot-making display since the French Open. On Sunday, Nadal went in the opposite direction. Against Anderson, he played conservative, lockdown, don’t-do-anything-stupid tennis. But he didn’t just push the ball back in the court. Rafa finished with 30 winners and 11 errors, and he was a sparkling 16 for 16 at net. On the flip side, virtually every time Anderson ventured forward, Nadal dipped a passing shot at the big man’s feet; Anderson was just 16 of 34 at net.

“Rafa made it very difficult for me tonight,” Anderson said. “I felt he got a lot of returns back...I think he had a pretty good read on my serve.”

Anderson said the biggest problem for him wasn’t major-final nerves; it was the “conundrum” of playing Rafa. If he had won, it would have ranked among the most stunning upsets in US Open history. Even so, Anderson’s two-week run was impressive. At the advanced age of 31, he tapped into a more aggressive side of his personality, but he couldn’t fist-pump his way past the original fist-pumper.

“I know we’re the same age,” Anderson said in a trophy-ceremony tribute to Nadal, “but I feel like I’ve been watching you my whole life.” He said Rafa was one of his idols, and that he has made a great ambassador for the sport. The same, as this speech made clear, can be said for Big Kev, and it was good to see the gentlemanly South African take an unexpected turn in the spotlight.

In his press conference later, Anderson said something else interesting about what makes Nadal unique.

“I have seen so many times where he’s able to play every single point at such a high intensity,” Anderson said. “A lot of guys sometimes, you know, you might see them get angry at a line call and suddenly they start playing better tennis. I have never seen him—some external factor and suddenly he’s bringing better tennis. He brings that high energy every single point.”

Nadal would echo those thoughts a few minutes later, when he was asked how he had stayed so calm.

“I was not calm, no?” Nadal said. “I was nevous, but all the body language that is not in a positive way is stupid to make it, because it’s going to be against you, no?”

“Is one of the things that I tried to do all my life that the body language helps me, not go against me, no? Because is one of the things that depends just on me, not on the opponent, no? Was not the day to have negative body language. Completely the opposite...I have [to be] ready to accept all these moments to compete well all the tournament.”

Embed from Getty Images

Rafa needed his philosophy of relentlessness more than ever to achieve this victory, which was his third at the US Open and his 16th at a major. Before today, he hadn’t won a Slam outside of Roland Garros since 2013. But during those dry years, he accepted all the bitter five-set losses he had taken, and never failed to come into the interview room vowing to work even harder to “find a solution.” In the third round at this tournament, Nadal struggled for more than an hour to break Leonardo Mayer’s serve, but each time a break point was wiped away, he put his head down and tried to create another one.

“I had a lot of moments to be very frustrated in the match, and I have been not,” Rafa said after beating Mayer. “I have been just fighting for the next point and with the right mentality.” Nadal called that win a turning point in his Open, and he took the “right mentality” with him the rest of the way.

On Sunday, the man who helped instill that mentality in Rafa, his Uncle Toni, was in the stands, in his customary corner seat, living and dying with each point his nephew played. Toni began coaching Rafa when he was 4, and has been with him for all 16 of his Slam wins. They’re the greatest coach-player partnership in tennis history, but this was Toni’s last major; he has said he’s coming off the road at the end of the year.

But he hasn’t lost any of his fanatical coaching drive. During the last game, when Rafa was struggling to hold serve for the title, Toni stood and yelled toward him, so loudly that Moya laughed and patted him on the back when he sat back down. During the final point, as Rafa moved to the net for the winning volley, you could see Toni flinch with nerves as he swung; that’s a flinch everyone who has ever watched a family member play tennis knows all too well. When Rafa’s shot went for a winner, Toni stood and raised his arms. Then, as the trophy ceremony was starting, he turned and walked up the stairs and out of the arena.

The unorthodox tactics, the always-positive body language, the constant, unflagging energy and will to win: Toni taught his nephew as well as any coach has ever taught a player, and he leaves Rafa in very good hands—his own.

http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/09/ ... son/69330/

[DUN I LOVE]

Trochę jednak ulga, że wpadły te dwa szlemy, bo Djokovic był niebezpiecznie blisko. Jestem ciekawy jaka będzie dyspozycja Serba w kolejnym sezonie i czy wpadnie mu szczęśliwa 13-stka.

Pierwszy raz od USO14 Rafa jest bliżej RF niż Djoković Rafy.

[Damian]

Toni Nadal: "To Win 16 Grand Slams Is Incredible"

Spoiler:

The uncle and coach of Rafael Nadal weighs up his victory at the 2017 US Open
It has been a fairytale season for Rafael Nadal, winning his 10th Roland Garros crown, returning to No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Rankings and now, on Sunday night in New York, capturing his 16th Grand Slam championship at the US Open. In the eyes of his uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, it is an incredible feat.
"When he was 12, 13 or 14, you never think he will get to this level," said Nadal. "I am very happy to see my nephew lift so many trophies, knowing that he has achieved another piece of history. He has won a hard-court tournament for the first time since 2014. We are very happy that he has won another Grand Slam, his 16th, and is in a position to fight for No. 1."
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Moya: "Rafa Always Gives His Best"
The US Open champion of 2010, 2013 and 2017 hadn't triumphed on hard courts since 2014 Doha (d. Monfils). Since then, he had contested 34 hard-court tournaments without success. This year, he was beaten in the finals of the Australian Open, Acapulco and Miami.
Nadal's victory at Flushing Meadows gives him a healthy lead over Roger Federer in the year-to-date standings as the two prepare to battle it out for the year-end No. 1 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings. Nadal has 9,365 points to Federer's 7,505. "He has a lead of almost 2,000 points," said Toni Nadal. "We will see what happens at the end of the year, though, with tournaments that usually favour Federer.
"At indoor hard-court tournaments, like Basel, Paris or the Nitto ATP Finals, Federer has the advantage. But I think that Rafael's level is high enough to do well in those events," said Toni Nadal.
Nadal's victory at the US Open rounded out the dominance that he and Federer have enjoyed once again in 2017, splitting the four Grand Slams between them in a season where both were coming back from injuries and loss of form. "It was unimaginable that would happen, of course," said Toni Nadal. "But I had faith that Rafael would win one more Grand Slam, I tell you truthfully."

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/ton ... 7-reaction

[Damian]

Moya: "Rafa Always Gives His Best"

Spoiler:

Spaniard believes Nadal will be challenging at the top for years to come
When Carlos Moya joined Rafael Nadal's team ahead of the 2017 season, he did so with total optimism. "When I joined the team I knew that there was much more to come for Rafa, that if he stayed injury free and continued training with the same motivation, desire and confidence, that the tennis would come," said Moya.
"And in any case, we are talking about a legend, so the victories always come sooner or later," added Nadal's coach, himself a former World No. 1. He wasn't mistaken. Three Grand Slam finals later, and with the US Open trophy now in his player's hands, Moya couldn't be more satisfied.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nadal Sprints To Third US Open Crown
Their relationship and friendship is well documented, with Moya mentoring Nadal since he was a teenager. But has anything ever surprised him about Nadal during his career? "Many things have surprised me," he responds without hesitation. "When I saw his progress, how quickly he went through every stage of development, when he won Wimbledon, when he achieved things that were unthinkable at that time in Spanish tennis... Now, nothing will surprise me anymore. He always gives the best of himself. We are talking about one of the greatest players in history and, as such, my faith in him is rock solid."
Moya, who as a coach has guided Nadal to three Grand Slam finals this year as well as taking Milos Raonic to the Wimbledon final in 2016, sees Nadal competing for everything in the future. "If he can stay as healthy as he is now, without injury, motivated, looking after himself the way he is, we will be talking about Rafa for years to come," said the Mallorcan.
"He is a player who broke records as a teenager and who is now breaking them as a veteran as well. This is something we haven't see much in the history of tennis. People talk about how physical tennis is, but here he is at 31 winning two Grand Slams, right behind Federer. We mustn't underestimate his talent, his ability to improve, to analyse things. For me, there is no reason to think he can't spend many more years on Tour," said Moya.
Can a World No. 1 and winner of 16 Grand Slams stay motivated? "Someone who has achieved so much will always find a new challenge," said Moya. "There aren't many challenges left, but there are some. He is a very competitive person, a very demanding person and that helps a lot. He will keep finding motivation and his biggest motivation will be to keep improving, keep evolving, stay competitive and he knows that if he can do that, the options to win tournaments and fight at the top will be there."

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/moy ... 7-reaction

[Damian]

Social Reacts To Nadal's US Open Win

Spoiler:

Fellow players pay tribute
After Rafael Nadal's victory at the US Open, his fellow players have taken to Twitter to send their well wishes to the Spaniard, who captured his 16th Grand Slam championship.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/nad ... r-reaction

[Damian]

Pierwszy raz od USO14 Rafa jest bliżej RF niż Djoković Rafy.

Tak sobie myślałem co gdyby nie ta ubiegłoroczna przerwa Feda i następstwo dwóch szlemów dla Rogera. Mógłby być już w tej chwili remis.

[Barty]

Pierwszy raz od USO14 Rafa jest bliżej RF niż Djoković Rafy.

Tak sobie myślałem co gdyby nie ta ubiegłoroczna przerwa Feda i następstwo dwóch szlemów dla Rogera. Mógłby być już w tej chwili remis.

Po USO15 było 10, 14, 17, pewnie o to Ci chodziło?

[Damian]

Gdyby Roger nie wygrał AO i Wimbledonu, Hiszpan miałby już przynajmniej 17, czyli tyle co Fed bez tegorocznych zdobyczy.

[Barty]

Znaczy ja odnosiłem się do zdania Dawida.
Twoje, Damian, jest jak najbardziej zrozumiale.

[DUN I LOVE]

Tak, o to mi chodziło, Panie Bartlander.

[lake]

Nie ma co gdybać. Dwa przegrane finały AO przez Rafę raczej rozstrzygają sprawę, zamiast po 18 jest jak jest. A jeszcze dochodzi 2012, który też był do wygrania.

[Barty]

Rafa Reveals What Keeps Him Humble

Spoiler:

The Spaniard is focused on finishing 2017 on a high note

Rafael Nadal is this week practising in Mallorca to prepare for the final stage of the season, which will include attempts to secure the year-end No. 1 spot in the Emirates ATP Rankings and his first Nitto ATP Finals title. Before he heads off to Asia, where he will play in Beijing (beginning 2 October) and Shanghai, the 16-time Grand Slam champion talked to the Spanish newspaper EL ESPAÑOL.
Nadal has achieved almost everything he could over what has been a successful decade, so how does the Spaniard remain so humble and grounded? Nadal, of course, has a clear answer.
“It’s related to your background, the place where you come from, the people who surround you and the education you have received,” said Nadal. “I grew up in a very normal environment and I still live this way. If I didn’t get a big head being 19, when all of a sudden everything happened and could go to my head, it won’t happen now when I am 31.”
Nadal has tried to maintain a modest attitude throughout his career, even after winning 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles and 16 majors.
“I am a normal and a common person. I do not see myself as a role model of anything,” explained Nadal. “I am a guy who plays tennis well. Things have worked out great, but I took it as something normal, as my family and people around me did. I have tried to have the right attitude on and off the court. But I make mistakes like everyone else. I am not the perfect son.”
Nadal, who has suffered multiple injuries over the past two years, has been healthy this season. It has been as perfect a year as he could have hoped for thus far.
“Seriously, I don’t want to talk about pain,” said Nadal. “I don’t like to talk about it. I try to manage everything the best way possible, the better I can. My goal is to finish the season healthy and then see if we can improve things for 2018. Today I am focused on what I have to do now: play well during the Asian swing and try to get ready for the last part of the season. That’s the only important thing for me right now.”
The addition of Carlos Moyà to the team has had a great impact on his success, says the World No. 1.“Carlos has been a great support,” said Nadal. “He came with excitement and also the belief that with a few things, I could improve my results. And it has helped. It has been a breath of fresh air, positive energy. We have changed the way we practise and for Toni (Nadal) it has been also good.”
Nadal says that while it is sometimes difficult to change practices after doing them the same way for a long stretch, Moya has made it easy.
“When you have the same routine for years it’s difficult to change,” said Nadal. “Carlos has been someone new who arrived in Mallorca to our daily practice sessions with new ideas, more specific ones. When someone new arrives, it’s easier to listen because it’s something different. And for Toni, having Carlos’ reinforcement when he had to talk to me, has made everything much easier. They have been a great team and I am very satisfied with their job, with the three of them.”
Nadal doesn’t rule out the option of playing doubles alongside Moyà, something he did with one of his other coaches, Francisco Roig, in the past.
“If Carlos is healthy we could play and be competitive,” said Nadal. “We’ll see. Depends on the schedule. I play a few tournaments when it comes to doubles, only when I think it will help me in singles. Normally I play at the beginning of the season or at a specific tournament.”
Does Nadal, who won Grand Slam No. 16 just weeks ago, think about the possibility of surpassing Roger’s Federer record of 19?
“Honestly, no,” answered Nadal. “To me, reaching the No. 1 place was not a goal and now could be a goal to finish the season up there after everything that has happened. Federer’s record? Now it’s not a challenge nor a goal. If there are options in the future, then it would be. I am happy with what I do, I am focused on my career and I don’t worry about the other ones.”
Lastly, Nadal addressed the possibility of becoming a coach in the future.
“I don’t know if I would be a good coach or not,” admitted Nadal. “I don’t think about it, but I won’t say no because there were a lot players who said that they wouldn’t become coaches and here they are. I can see myself in the academy helping kids every day, playing with them. In five or 10 years, we’ll see what happens.”

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/nad ... 2017-lunes

[Damian]

[Damian]

[Lleyton]

Rafael Nadal to open his 2018 ATP season at the Brisbane International

Spoiler:

Rafael Nadal will open his 2018 ATP World Tour season by returning to the Brisbane International.

The Spaniard, who will return to the world number one spot for the first time since 2014 on Monday, has confirmed he will compete in Queensland at the start of next year.

Nadal lost in the last eight of this year's Brisbane tournament to Milos Raonic but went on to reach the final of the Australian Open a few weeks later.

He seems happy with his preparation for the opening Grand Slam of the season though and will repeat the trick in 2018.

“I’m very happy to be back," he said. "Last year (2017) for me was the first experience and was very successful.

"The atmosphere is great and there’s a lot of nice people supporting the event. I really enjoyed the experience.”

Since his defeat to Federer at the Australian Open, Nadal has gone on to win his 15th Grand Slam crown at the French Open.

Brisbane International tournament director Geoff Quinlan said: "It’s beyond exciting to be welcoming Rafa back to Brisbane for our tenth tournament. He’s one of the world’s most legendary and electric players, and was adored by fans in Brisbane earlier this year.

"Nadal is in career best form having just won his 10th French Open title, and I’m sure he’ll delight fans with his physical game at Pat Rafter Arena."

The Brisbane International takes place from December 31 to January 7.

Nadal has already said he will defend his title in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship, a three-day exhibition event in Abu Dhabi, in the week before.

https://www.sportinglife.com/tennis/new ... 2018/98480

[Damian]