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US Open 2019: Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller to win his 19th Grand Slam title

Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a five-set thriller to lift the US Open 2019 Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday (September 8).

US Open 2019: Rafael Nadal beats Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller to win his 19th Grand Slam title

New York, Sep 9: Spain's Rafael Nadal defeated Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a five-set thriller to lift the US Open 2019 Men's Singles Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday (September 8).

With this win, Nadal - the world number two - claimed his fourth title at the Flushing Meadows and 19th Grand Slam.

The Spanish great secured his second major of 2019 and moved within one of Federer, who holds the all-time men's record for most grand slam titles with 20. Nadal has won record 35 ATP Tour Masters 1000 titles, 20 ATP Tour 500 titles.

In a game that lasted almost four hours and 45 minutes, Nadal faced a tough challenge from his 23-year-old Russian opponent. The world number five came back strongly in the third set after losing the first two against the World Number 2.

Medvedev, who has the most wins on the ATP Tour this year and has played the role of villain in New York, looked set to cause a momentous upset, only for Nadal to edge through the fifth set.

The 23-year-old Russian won just three games against Nadal in the Rogers Cup final a month ago, yet almost became the second player in history to beat the left-hander after losing the first two sets to the 33-year-old at a grand slam.

The win meant the 'Big Three' of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic swept the grand slams for the third straight year, a feat they last achieved between 2006 and 2008.

In what was a high-quality start, there was early drama as Nadal produced an around-the-net winner and was given a time violation in the opening game.

The duo then traded breaks, Nadal mishitting a forehand into the bottom of the net to give Medvedev a 2-1 lead, only for the Russian to send a backhand well long to fail to consolidate.

Nadal's pressure - Medvedev fended off three break points in the eighth game and was again tested in the 10th - paid off at the perfect time, landing the break and opening set when his opponent put a backhand volley into the net.

Medvedev recovered from 0-40 to hold for 2-2 in the second set, but there was no denying Nadal in the sixth game, a deep return leading to an error and a break as the second seed took complete control.

Nadal gave up a break lead midway through the third set and Medvedev fought hard - the villain threatening to turn hero as he earned chants from the Arthur Ashe crowd - before spectacularly taking the set with a backhand winner down the line.

Suddenly, it was Medvedev - calm and composed - looking the better of the two players as Nadal seemed to be tiring, a tough hold in the second game of the fourth set coming as the Spaniard tried to fire himself up.

Nadal looked the more likely to break until Medvedev did just that, ripping an incredible backhand return winner down the line to force a fifth set.

Medvedev needed treatment on his thigh before the deciding set, Nadal saving three break points in the second game, including one after a second-time violation saw him denied a first serve.

Nadal landed the first break of the final set, ending an incredible point with a backhand cross-court winner to take a 3-2 lead.

Nadal won four straight games before handing a break back following another time violation, this one leading to a double fault, and Medvedev bravely saved two match points in the ninth game.

The topsy-turvy encounter continued as Nadal saved a breakpoint with a big forehand, his fourth US Open title secured when Medvedev sent a return long.


STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN Rafael Nadal [2] bt Daniil Medvedev [5] 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS Nadal - 62/46 Medvedev - 75/57

ACES/DOUBLE FAULTS Nadal - 5/5 Medvedev - 14/4

BREAK POINTS WON Nadal - 6/21 Medvedev - 5/15

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE Nadal - 58 Medvedev - 64

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE Nadal - 77/52 Medvedev - 65/54

TOTAL POINTS Nadal - 177 Medvedev - 164

(With OPTA Inputs)

Story first published: Monday, September 9, 2019, 7:02 [IST]
Other articles published on Sep 9, 2019