NEW YORK — For all the injuries, upsets and withdrawals at this topsy turvy US Open, Rafael Nadal restored some order on Sunday.
The No. 1 seed beat No. 28 Kevin Anderson, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, in 2 hours, 28 minutes to win the men’s championship on a sun-kissed day before 23,000 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. The crowd included Tiger Woods, who sat in Nadal’s player box, Jerry Seinfeld, Tony Bennett and Candice Bergen.
For Nadal, 31, it was his third US Open title (2010, ’13), his second major of the year after he won the French Open and the 16th Grand Slam title of his career. His arch rival Roger Federer, who lost here in the quarterfinals, remains the all-time men’s leader with 19 majors. With the win, Nadal also solidified his grip on the year-end No. 1 ranking.
Nadal won the title — and it’s $3.7 million prize money — without facing a top-10 seed during the tournament, the first time that has happened for a men’s champion at a Grand Slam in the Open Era. He improved to 16-7 in Grand Slam finals, while Anderson is now 0-1 after reaching his maiden major final.
“For me of course personally it’s just unbelievable what happened this year after a couple of years with some troubles, injuries, some moments playing not good,” Nadal told ESPN on court. “Since the beginning of the season have been very, very emotional, no? Since Australia I have been playing a very high level of tennis.
“Winning here in New York, that’s won of the events that brings me to a higher energy of the world. The crowd here is unbelievable, makes me feel so so happy.”
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.@michelleyutv with US Open champion @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/ylF4pyISWw
— SportsNet New York (@SNYtv) September 11, 2017
