US Open Men's Single Final: Nadal regains title to crown brilliant year

Rafa Nadal crowned his brilliant year by defeating world number one Novak Djokovic 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1 to win the US Open men's singles title at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday.

The number two ranked Spaniard added a second Grand Slam crown this season to his French Open triumph when the top-seeded Serb dumped a forehand into the net, sending Nadal down onto his back before rolling face down and sobbing in joy.

The triumph improved Nadal's career total to 13 Grand Slam wins, moving him one ahead of Australian Roy Emerson and into third on the all-time list behind Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14).

Nadal, who won the 2010 US Open in a final against Djokovic and then lost their finals rematch in 2011, improved his hard court record to a spotless 22-0 this year and his overall match record to a sensational 60-3.

"Playing against Novak is a very special feeling," the 27-year-old Nadal said at the trophy ceremony. "Probably no one brings my game to the level that Novak does."

The left-hander from Mallorca, who missed last year's tournament at Flushing Meadows because of a knee injury, collected a $2.6 million prize.

Nadal also pocketed an extra $1 million bonus for having topped the standings in the US Open run-up series of events, matching the $3.6 million haul of women's winner Serena Williams.

"He was too good," said Australian Open champion Djokovic. "He definitely deserved to win this match and this trophy."

"Obviously it's disapppointing to lose a match like this. But it's an honour and privilege to be fighting for this trophy."

The quality of tennis rose throughout the match, translating into long rallies, brilliant defense and booming winners that had the centre court on their feet roaring their appreciation.

Among a horde of celebrities from sports and entertainment world, Queen Sofia of Spain was also on hand to cheer on Nadal.

After splitting the first two sets, Nadal gained the upper hand by winning a tightly-fought third set, battling back from triple break point down in the ninth game.

After he saved serve for a 5-4 lead, the Spaniard broke Djokovic in the next game to move one set away from victory.

Smelling victory, Nadal was not to be denied.

The Spaniard broke the 26-year-old Serb with a booming forehand winner to take a 2-0 lead and with Djokivic wilting against Nadal's powerful groundstrokes the world number two broke him again to make it 5-1 before he served out the victory.

FOURTH SET

Rafael Nadal sheds tears of joy after regaining the US Open title after a classic slugfest with Novak Djokovic in a match which produced a 54-shot rally.

Novak produced more winners 46 winners as against 27 by Nadal whose single ace came to come back from triple break point in the third set which was the turning point of the match.

Rafa produced the big shots sealing victory with a 6-1 win in just 38 minutes in the fourth as Novak committed 53 unforced errors in the match as against 20 by the Spaniard.

Nadal won 121 points overall as against 102 by the Serb world number one.

Novak nets a forehand as Rafa seals game, set and match 40-15. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-1

Double match point for Rafa as Novak nets forehand.

Rafa makes it 30-15 with forehand down the line as Novak goes the wrong way.

Rafa makes it 15-15 with a forehand volley to the right.

Novak wins a point with a backhand winner.

Nadal is serving for the match.

BREAK! Novak commits a litany of unforced as he loses the game with a backhand passing shot. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 5-1

Break point for Nadal as Novak commits three unforced errors on the trot.

Nadal comes back as Novak commits his 50th unforced error.

Novak surges ahead with a couple of volleys.

Nadal takes a big lead asserting his dominance with a forehand winner while Novak loses it with yet another unforced error. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 4-1

Nadal wins a crucial point with a crosscourt backhand after a 25-shot rally.

Novak holds slamming a forehand crosscourt winner followed by backhand from Nadal which goes wide. Djokovic 2-6 6-3 4-6 1-3

Nadal holds serve with backhand down the line with Novak wilting having committed 48 unforced errors as against 19 as the final just passes the three-hour mark. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 3-0

BREAK! Rafa wins the game with a forehand down the line. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 2-0

Novak saves one with a forehand volley and another with a backhand which clips the net.

Triple break point for Nadal.

Nadal wrests back the initiative and hold serve with a forehand smash. Nadal 6-2 3-6 6-4 1-0

Break point for Novak with an exquisit backhand drop shot but loses the next point with a forehand unforced error.

THIRD SET

Rafa Nadal won a tightly-fought third set in the US Open men's final against world number one Novak Djokovic to move within one set of claiming the championship on Monday.

The second-seeded Spaniard battled back from triple break point down in the ninth game of the set to hold for 5-4 and then broke Djokovic in the next game to take a 6-2 3-6 6-4 lead.

The quality of tennis was rising throughout the match, translating into long rallies, brilliant defense and booming winners that had the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd on their feet roaring their appreciation.

Australian Open champion Djokovic had carried over his momentum from the second set by breaking Nadal in the first game of the third set.

French Open winner Nadal brought the set back on serve at 3-3, taking advantage of a string of Djokovic errors.

Djokovic looked poised to claim a critical break in the ninth game after playing three brilliant points for 0-40.

But Nadal rose up and denied Djokovic, snuffing out the third break point with his first ace of the match on a 125-mph bullet and held after the second deuce.

The top-seeded Serb kept pounding groundstrokes to Nadal's backhand after Nadal reached set point in the 10th game, but when Djokovic finally tested the Spaniard on his forehand side, the world number two unleashed a winner up the line to end the set.

BREAK! Nadal building up the pressure on Djokovic and that worked for him as he wins the third set to lead 2-1. Nadal really played like a champion there forcing Djokovic to commit errors.

Nadal saves triple break point including his first ace of the match to hold on to his serve. Great fight from Nadal but Djokovic is looking equally impressive. 4-5.

Djokovic holds on to his serve to level at 4-4.

Nadal looks rejuvenated here and holds his serve easily. Djokovic again seems to be losing his focus. 3-4

BREAK! Nadal is fighting hard to get that break and he succeeds from 30-40. So it's an equal battle again here as Nadal levels 3-3.

Nadal holds his serve but Djokovic is still up a break. 3-2

Unforced errors troubling Nadal as Djokovic stretches lead to 3-1

Nadal holds on to a hard fought game. 2-1.

Djokovic takes a 2-0 lead.

BREAK! Djokovic takes early lead to break Nadal. He is fighting back really hard and Nadal looks to be struggling. Triple break point and he wins it in the first one. 1-0

SECOND SET

Novak Djokovic turned up the intensity and outslugged French Open champion Rafa Nadal to win the second set of the US Open men's final and level the match 2-6 6-3 on Monday.

The top-seeded Serb claimed a rare service break in the sixth game, taking a 4-2 lead by winning an exhausting 54-stroke, battering ram of a rally when he handcuffed Nadal with a backhand to his feet.

Djokovic raised both arms above his head and shook them in triumph to cheers from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

It was only the second time in the last 89 service games that Nadal had been broken, but that feeling of exultation was short-lived as the Spaniard broke right back in the next game to bring the set back on serve at 4-3.

World number one Djokovic showed his determination by seizing the advantage again in the next game, breaking Nadal with a backhand crosscourt winner and then ending the set on serve in the next game with a backhand winner down the line.

A great fightback from Djokovic to win the second set 6-3. He is hitting the baseline really hard troubling Nadal. The heat is on.

BREAK! Djokovic earns a well-deserved break after fighting it really hard in the deuce. 5-3.

BREAK! Nadal fights back immediately to gain a triple break point and wins it in the third attempt. 4-3

BREAK! After an amazing rally that ran into 54 shots, Djokovic breaks Nadal to lead 4-2.

No mistakes from Djokovic as he holds his serve to lead 3-2.

Nadal does not drop a point to hold his serve. 2-2

Djokovic is coming closer to the net and it's working for him. Holds his serve to lead 2-1.

Djokovic fights back early in the second set earning double break point but Nadal has been too good for the Serb as he holds on to his serve. 1-1

Djokovic manages to hold on to his serve early in the second set. 1-0.

FIRST SET

Rafa Nadal took the upper hand in the US Open men's final by winning the opening set 6-2 against world number one Novak Djokovic on Monday.

The French Open champion broke the top-seeded Serbian in the third game when he blasted a forehand winner to take a 2-1 lead.

World number two Nadal broke Djokovic again in the seventh game for a 5-2 edge when he won his eighth consecutive point after winning a challenge on a Djokovic ball ruled in by the linesman.

Nadal, dashing around the court with speed and ease, played a much cleaner set in windy condition at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

He made just four unforced errors to 14 by Australian Open winner Djokovic.

Nadal has it easy as he wraps his first set 6-2 in just over 42 minutes. Djokovic put a strong fight in this game to earn two early points but Nadal ensured he finished it off.

BREAK! Nadal covering the court quite impressively. Quickly earns his three break points and wins it immediately courtesy the review after Djokovic's forehand missed the baseline by an inch. 5-2.

Nadal has been accurate so far in his shots while Djokovic seems to be losing his cool early on. Some impressive forehand shots and Nadal holds the lead without dropping a point. 4-2.

Good serves including an ace ensures Djokovic holds his serve easily. 3-2

Djokovic responded immediately winning the first two points but Nadal tightens up things despite the game going to deuce to hold on to his serve. 3-1

BREAK! Nadal secures an early break in the first set. 2-1.

Long rallies and good return from Djokovic as he takes it to deuce, but Nadal keeps his serve to level with Djokovic. 1-1

Djokovic makes a positive start in the final to hold his serve to take a 1-0 advantage in the first set.

The big final is here. Nadal and Djokovic warm up at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Nadal looks to be the favourite considering his dominating performance so far, while Djokovic also is equally lethal but has had his diffcult moments in this tournament.

PREVIEW

Move over John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl, the new greatest rivalry in tennis will be on display at Arthur Ashe Stadium when world number one Novak Djokovic meets number two Rafa Nadal for the US Open title on Monday.

Djokovic and Nadal, who have been dominant over the last 15 slams, will be meeting for the 37th time in the championship showdown, surpassing McEnroe and Lendl for the most clashes since tennis turned professional 45 years ago.

A high intensity, high energy, ball-slugging battle should be in the offing between the Spaniard and the Serb, who have staged thrilling five-setters this year in the French Open semi-finals and last year for the Australian Open title.

Asked if he enjoyed playing against Djokovic, Nadal answered with refreshing honesty.

"I prefer to play against another one," he said with a smile. "But is what it is.

"Talking about a final, I want to play against a player that I have more chances to win. But I played against him a lot of times. Always we played very exciting matches."

Nadal beat Djokovic 9-7 in the fifth set of their semi-final on his way to winning his eighth French Open and 12th career Grand Slam title.

Djokovic won their six-hour war in the 2012 Australian Open final and has since added a third Australian title in a row to take his grand slam haul to six.

The rivalry between Roger Federer and Nadal had been the foremost grudge game in the sport in recent years, but with the Swiss Grand Slam king fading from dominance, Djokovic-Nadal has risen to hottest in tennis.

Nadal leads the series 21-15 and has won five of the last six, but his overall edge was largely built in the first half of the rivalry when he won 14 of their first 18 matches.

The Spaniard, who missed the US Open last year after being sidelined for seven months by a knee injury, has come back with a brilliant 2013 campaign.

After skipping the season's first slam, the Australian Open won by Djokovic, Nadal has registered nine tournament victories and been perfect this season on hard courts, posting a 21-0 mark on the surface within a tour-best match record of 59-3.

"It's always the biggest challenge that you can have in our sport now," Djokovic said about facing Nadal. "He's the ultimate competitor out there. He fights for every ball and he's playing probably the best tennis that he ever played on hard courts.

"He hasn't lost a match on hard court this year and we all knew that over the course of last six, seven, eight years, hard court hasn't been his favorite surface.

"He lost three matches this year. With no doubt, he's the best player in the moment this year, no question about it."

RUBBER MATCH

Their Flushing Meadows finals clash will be a rubber match of sorts for Djokovic and Nadal.

The second-seeded Nadal won his only US Open in 2010 against Djokovic. The top-seeded Serb won his only US title the next year against the Spaniard. Monday's winner will be the year's only two-time slam champion of 2013.

The showdown will mark the 12th time in the past 15 Grand Slams dating back to the 2010 French Open that either Djokovic or Nadal will claim the slam title, with Nadal having won six and Djokovic five during the stretch.

The marquee match-up features players with 18 Grand Slam titles between them, the most in a US Open final since Pete Sampras (13) beat Andre Agassi (7) for the 2002 crown.

Nadal, 27, expects a big battle.

"If both of us are playing at very good level, the match becomes great because we play long rallies, we bring our game to the limit, and becomes a very difficult match for both of us."

"When you are involved in these kind of matches, you feel special," the Spaniard said. "Is true we already play a lot of important matches for our career, so that makes that confrontation special."

The 26-year-old Djokovic, competing in his third major final of the season and fourth successive US Open final, was not cowed by Nadal's recent run of success.

"He's very confident, but you know, I know how to play him. Hard court is my most successful surface. I have played him already here twice in the finals. I know what I need to do."

Paths to men's final

Following are the paths to the US Open men's final to be played on Monday at the US National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York (prefix denotes seeding, q-qualifier, wc-wild card):

1-Novak Djokovic (Serbia), world number one First round - beat Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 6-1 6-2 6-2 Second round - beat Benjamin Becker (Germany) 7-6(2) 6-2 6-2 Third round - beat Joao Sousa (Portugal) 6-0 6-2 6-2 Fourth round - beat Marcel Granollers (Spain) 6-3 6-0 6-0 Quarter-finals - beat 21-Mikhail Youzhny (Russia) 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-0 Semi-finals - beat 9-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) 2-6 7-6(4) 3-6 6-3 6-4 Time on court: 12 hours, 55 minutes

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2-Rafa Nadal (Spain), world number two First round - beat wc-Ryan Harrison (US) 6-4 6-2 6-2 Second round - beat q-Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 6-2 6-1 6-0 Third round - beat Ivan Dodig (Croatia) 6-4 6-3 6-3 Fourth round - beat 22-Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) 6-7(4) 6-4 6-3 6-1 Quarter-finals - beat 19-Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-0 6-2 6-2 Semi-finals - beat 8-Richard Gasquet (France) 6-4 7-6(1) 6-2 Time on court: 12 hours, 59 minutes

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