NEW YORK — Rafael Nadal further solidified his place in the pantheon of tennis greats with a first U.S. Open crown Monday in a rain-delayed final at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The top-seeded Spaniard held off No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in 3 hours, 43 minutes to become the seventh man to complete a career Grand Slam.
At 24, Nadal — with five French Opens, two Wimbledons and one Australian and U.S. Open each — is the second-youngest man to accumulate nine Grand Slam tournament titles after Bjorn Borg.
"That's more than what I dreamed," a beaming Nadal said on court after winning his third consecutive major of 2010. Nadal joins Rod Laver in 1969 as the latest man to win three consecutive majors, the French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open. Next up, perhaps, could be four majors in a row at the Australian Open— a "Rafa Slam."
"Right now he is the best player in the world, and he absolutely deserves this title," said Djokovic, 23, the 2008 Australian Open champion playing in his second U.S. Open final.
Lunging, huffing, digging into the corners — the effort expended by Nadal and Djokovic was in their labored grunts, squeaking sneakers, fist pumps and cries of "Vamos!"
It was a fitting final for two players separated by 11 months and meeting for the first time in a Grand Slam final — with the potential to form the next great rivalry in men's tennis. Nadal prevailed to fill the only hole missing from his Grand Slam résumé, but Djokovic made him earn it.
Nadal entered the final without the loss of a set. Behind a vastly improved serve, he had rolled through 89 of 91 service games in six matches.
Third-seeded Djokovic trailed Nadal 14-7 in meetings but had won seven of their 10 on cement, including the last three. But the 23-year-old Serb had never beaten Nadal in a best-of-five match.
It didn't' start well for the Serb. Djokovic dropped serve in the opening game but then evened the match at 2-2 — breaking Nadal for just the third time in the tournament.
With the final already delayed a day by Sunday's showers, rain hit again with Nadal up a set and locked at 4-4 in the second set. When they returned, the 23-year-old Djokovic rebounded to even the match at a set apiece, denying Nadal the chance to become the first man to win the U.S. Open without dropping a set in half a century.
But Nadal quickly reasserted himself by taking an early lead in the third set and then never let up.
Even when Djokovic saw some light, Nadal clamped down. Serving at 5-4, 0-15, he unleashed two service winners and his fifth ace to take a 2-1 set lead.
"I mean, three amazing serves," said Djokovic, who upset five-time U.S. Open champ Roger Federer in a stirring five-set semifinal Saturday.
Both men survived two weeks of unpredictability — from the first few days of 90-degree heat, to swirling winds and finally, rain, which pushed the final to Monday and interrupted it again for nearly two hours.
Both also played terrifically in stretches.
Despite Nadal's punishing array of groundstrokes, slices and suddenly potent 130-mph serves, 2008 Australian Open champ Djokovic hung with him, scrambling into the corners and belting his own bushel of forehand winners in the high-quality contest — the same formula he used to upset 16-time major winner Roger Federer in the semifinals.
Djokovic was the more opportune of the two, converting three of four break chances while Nadal managed just six of 26.
Nadal finished with advantages in aces (8-5) and winners (49-45) and hit fewer unforced errors (31-47).
And the nine-time major winner played the big points better, and wore out Djokovic with his unyielding style.
"Whenever it was important, he was the one who was playing just too good," Djokovic said, adding, "He has the capabilities to be the best player ever."
When Djokovic sailed a forehand wide on match point, Nadal fell on his back, and then rolled over and heaved sobs.
Djokovic sent a signal with his own gutsy play during the fortnight, but marveled at how Nadal — a Grand Slam winner on clay, grass and cement in 2010 — continues to evolve.
"That's what's so frustrating, a little bit," Djokovic said. "He's getting better each time you play him."
