Rafael Nadal Wins U.S. Open and Completes Career Slam
Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to win the 2010 U.S. Open men’s singles title. Nadal, who has only lost one match in the Grand Slams after winning the first set is the first left-hander since John McEnroe and the first Spaniard since Manuel
Orantes to win the U.S. Open. By winning his third straight Grand Slam following his victories earlier this summer at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, Nadal has collected his ninth Grand Slam singles title and completed a “career Grand Slam” by winning titles at least once at each of the four majors. Andre Agassi in 1999 and Roger Federer in 2009 are two of the seven men who also achieved that rare feat. In addition, Nadal, only twenty-four years old, won a Gold Medal in singles at the Beijing Olympics and played on the Spanish Davis Cup Championship team.
It has clearly been a “career year” for Rafa, but tennis was also a winner at the U.S. Open. Federer and Djokovic played a thrilling five set match in the semis and Rafa and Djokovic battled over four sets with long, well-played baseline rallies often ending in winners, i.e. Rafa had 49 and Djokovic 45. Nadal, by winning three Grand Slams in less than four months on clay, grass and hard courts, has illustrated how far his game has come from the days when many referred to Nadal as a “clay court specialist”. What’s most impressive is how much Rafa, who was ranked Number One two years ago when he won the Australian Open and Wimbledon for the first time along with capturing Olympic Gold, has improved over the past few years. Nadal has markedly improved his first serve, slice backhand, topspin backhand and volleying. What a terrific example to set for young tennis players that even the best can become better… vamos!
It has clearly been a “career year” for Rafa, but tennis was also a winner at the U.S. Open. Federer and Djokovic played a thrilling five set match in the semis and Rafa and Djokovic battled over four sets with long, well-played baseline rallies often ending in winners, i.e. Rafa had 49 and Djokovic 45. Nadal, by winning three Grand Slams in less than four months on clay, grass and hard courts, has illustrated how far his game has come from the days when many referred to Nadal as a “clay court specialist”. What’s most impressive is how much Rafa, who was ranked Number One two years ago when he won the Australian Open and Wimbledon for the first time along with capturing Olympic Gold, has improved over the past few years. Nadal has markedly improved his first serve, slice backhand, topspin backhand and volleying. What a terrific example to set for young tennis players that even the best can become better… vamos!
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