Rafael Nadal Wins the U.S. Open and Brings Superstar Quality Back to Men ’s Tennis

Who called this one? Exactly no one, that’s who. Coming into this year’s tennis season, sports writers and commentators were contemplating career obituaries for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, rather than predicting that they would sweep the season’s Grand Slams. Who could blame them for preparing for the end of Roger and Rafa, whose stocks were slipping? Nadal’s 2016 results were a dour read: loses the first round at the Australian Open; withdraws from the French Open — where he had won nine titles — with a wrist injury before the third round; misses Wimbledon due to a bum wrist; fails to win a medal at the Rio Olympics; fourth round loss at the U.S. Open; ends the season in October (wrist again). He was 30, a pro for over half his life, with a dossier of injuries to show for it. Meanwhile, Federer, aged 35. He hadn’t won a single major victory since 2010, and none since 2012. He had knee surgery in 2016, and lost the last five months of the season to rehab. Nadal and Federer won every Grand Slam tournament in 2006, 2007, and 2010. Now, improbable as it is to believe, you can add 2017 to that ledger. Nadal beat South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in straight sets at the U.S. Open final Sunday evening, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, to cap off his remarkable Grand Slam campaign. Having won his 10th French Open in May, Nadal now owns 16 Grand Slam singles titles, two more than Pete Sampras’ 14, and three behind Federer’s record of 19. Sur...
Source: TIME.com: Top Science and Health Stories - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Australian Open French Open Grand Slams Kevin Anderson Rafael Nadal Roger Federer tennis US Open Wimbledon Source Type: news