Reportedly, Rafael Nadal hammered world number one Novak Djokovic by 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 in a lung-busting, big-hitting final to claim his second US Open title along with 13th Grand Slam crown on Monday.
The 27-year-old added the 2013 trophy to his 2010 triumph, when he completed a career Grand Slam. Ultimately, he captured 10 titles and stretched his season record to 60 wins with just three defeats.
Remarkably, Monday's victory earned him a total of $3.6 million, which pushed his career earnings through the $60 million mark. He even edged closer to Roger Federer's record of 17 majors and positioned him one behind Pete Sampras.
World number 2 Nadal, who returned to the tour in February after a seven-month injury lay-off, took his lead over Djokovic to 22-15 in the pair's record-setting 37th meeting as he added the US Open crown to the 8th French Open he won in June.
Nadal commented that it is very emotional. All his team knows what this means to him. He added that Novak always brings his game to the limit. Truly, he is an amazing player. He is expected to go as one of the greatest in the sport.
For Djokovic, he was playing a fourth successive final in New York. In fact, it was a shocking defeat in a year which commenced with a fourth Australian Open title but continued with a semi-final loss at the French Open to Nadal and previously a Wimbledon final battered by Andy Murray.
Precisely, Djokovic lost 11 of the last 13 games with his challenge which was fatally undermined by 53 unforced errors as compared to Nadal's 20.
Djokovic remarked that Rafa was too good, he certainly deserved to win today. He was disappointed to lose a match like this but it is a great advantage to be struggling for the trophy.
Nadal, who is in his 18th major final, was contentedly the more settled player in the opening stages, who found pin-point accuracy while Djokovic, who had voiced his dislike at playing on a late Monday afternoon before, was lethargic and heavy-footed. Moreover Nadal, who missed the 2012 tournament through injury, was aware of the Serb's uneasiness and broke for a 2-1 lead. Particularly, he mastered the occasion as well as the tricky breeze.
Of course, the technology was on the Spaniard's favor as a triumphant challenge on triple break point gave him a double break for 5-2. Nadal claimed the first set comfortably after 42 minutes, while Djokovic was undone by 14 unforced errors.
The 26-year-old Djokovic broke for 4-2 in the second set following a 54-shot rally, while Nadal dumped an approach into the net. However, it was only the second time Nadal had dropped serve in the tournament and the retard fired him in an immediate response. Further, he hit back at 3-4, before Djokovic broke back again for 5-3 on a modest 28-shot exchange. Notably this time, the world number one backed it up to level the final, carrying the 58-minute set with a down the line winner. Then Djokovic broke to love in the opening game of the third and had a point for a double break in the third before Nadal avoided dropping serve for the fourth game at a stretch.
Subsequently, the world number two took advantage of a sloppy Djokovic service game to level at 3-3. However, the twists and turns became a stumble for Nadal, who slipped on the floor in the ninth game. Staying unperturbed, he saved three break points to march ahead by 5-4 and further set free a deep, fierce forehand which Djokovic could not challenge as Nadal entered two sets to one lead. The momentum returned with Nadal as Djokovic cursed his unforced error count, which had increased to 42. Next, Nadal struggled for two break points in the opening game of the fourth set and broke Djokovic with a heat-seeker of a forehand. Then, he backed it up for 3-0 and repeated it against a tiring Djokovic for 5-1.
Nadal clinched victory after 3 hours and 21 minutes when Djokovic buried a return in the net.
