The 37th and latest installment of the Rafael Nadal-Novak Djokovic rivalry was fraught with historic implications for the world’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked tennis players.
Entering Monday’s U.S. Open final, each man had won one Grand Slam event this year and the latest battle would give one player a second major and the distinction of being perceived as the No. 1 player in the world.
In the end, Nadal continued his recent hardcourt dominance, capping a 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory in three hours and 21 minutes by jumping up in celebration and then falling on his back on the Arthur Ashe Stadium court after Djokovic sent a forehand into the net on match point.
The crowd of 22,000 that roared in approval included Jessica Alba, David Beckham, Justin Timberlake, Sean Connery, Alec Baldwin, Martha Stewart and Rod Laver, one of the greatest players in tennis history.
“First thing, very, very emotional,” said Nadal, who picked up a total of $3.6 million in prize money. “Probably only my team knows how much means the match of today for me. Playing against Novak always is a very special feeling. Probably nobody brings my game to the limit like Novak does, so congratulations, Novak, you are an amazing player.”
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Photo: NY Times
