Scene set for new epic in rivalry of Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal
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The Serbian and the Spaniard have a history of thrilling meetings and the US Open final promises to be yet another classic
Rafa Nadal celebrates winning his US Open semi-final against Richard Gasquet. Photograph: REX/BPI
Before they put a roof on the Arthur Ashe Stadium at Flushing
Meadows, there surely will be a few memories left to cherish in the
night-time breeze in the magnificent deep saucer that has hosted the
last grand slam of the summer since 1997. What it lacks in depth of
history it has made up for in drama, and the final between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, their third here in four years, should be no different.
In a setting that might have been created to accommodate the September storms that lash the east coast of the continent like some annual penance, the final brings together two players perfectly suited to the surroundings, a pair of elemental fighters whose mood seems always to be in step with the occasion.
None of their 36 matches has been dull. Most of them have been epic. And they are near to their best to duel again for the US Open title.
This will be the sixth Monday final in a row, but the first scheduled, because the previous five were moved from the appointed Sunday finish by a mix of bad weather and bone-headed TV scheduling. No rain is forecast this time – it will be cloudy and cool with a 10mph breeze to confound the players' judgment – but there more than likely will be fireworks of sorts between adversaries who live on the extremities of their physical and mental capacity. It is a fair bet all but a few of the 22,547 seats will be occupied. Noisily.
Before the tournament, the Spaniard and the Serbian vied for favouritism and not much that has happened over the past fortnight has changed the consensus. Roger Federer, who won the last of his five titles in 2008, went meekly and tearfully; Andy Murray, whose only title here arrived a year ago, also departed a disappointed man. Others played their part, including Birmingham's favourite scallywag, Dan Evans, and Stanislas Wawrinka, who put out Murray with astonishing power and very nearly spoiled the script for Djokovic in a great semi-final on Saturday.
The two left standing have played magnificently, both have had to raise their games, Djokovic more than Nadal, who had played well in a more routine engagement of straight sets against the gifted but fragile Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who never the less stopped the Mallorcan's run of 88 games without dropping serve.
Djokovic said after watching that match: "With no doubt he's the best player in the moment this year, no question about it." Nadal said: "I was able to play three grand slams this season. I won one; I lost in the third round in another. That's a great result for me. I'm happy the way that I played since I came back."
That might be the understatement of the year – alongside Gasquet's post-match observation: "I think he was a little bit better than me."
His comeback has to rival that of Andre Agassi, who dragged himself back from the brink of oblivion to raid the upper echelons of the game again with such style – but Nadal's predicament was physical more than spiritual.
He never fell out of love with tennis and he knew he had to repair and rest his wounded knees or face the real possibility of retirement at just 27.
His seven-month sabbatical clearly worked. He has won 59 matches since returning, and lost just three, rising from No 5 in the world to No 2. He is unbeaten in 21 matches on the hard courts that did the damage to him in the first place – and he has instilled trepidation in every tournament he enters – winning nine of 12 so far – no matter the surface.
He says he is not thinking about displacing Djokovic as the world No1, that all that matters to him is winning this title. That no doubt is his match-day mind-set. And not terribly convincing.
Their rivalry is perfectly good-natured, with only the odd moment of friction (Djokovic's mimicking of Nadal's short-tugging and other tics amused everyone but his protagonist), but they are serious, driven champions. While Nadal has won 21 of the 36 encounters, he has never quite forgotten the run of six defeats Djokovic inflicted on him in 2011.
So, what about that rivalry with Djokovic, he was asked after beating Gasquet? As is his habit, he tried for self-deprecation. "I prefer to play against another one, but is what it is."
In his faltering English, he summed it up: "I want to play against a player that I have more chances to win. But I play against him. I played against him a lot of times [7-3 up in slams]. Always we played very exciting matches. When you play, when you are involved in these kind of matches, you feel special. We play long rallies, we bring our game to the limit."
The numbers – as impressive as they are – will matter little when they get down to it, a little after 10pm UK time. They might have the baggage of common history, but, once they settle into a rhythm, their strategies will not be much different from before, Nadal looking to crunch those wicked forehands wide to Djokovic's backhand, and Djokovic, the great rubber man of his sport, gathering in the howitzers and returning them with interest. They are one apiece here in finals. I favour Nadal to win in four sets.
In a setting that might have been created to accommodate the September storms that lash the east coast of the continent like some annual penance, the final brings together two players perfectly suited to the surroundings, a pair of elemental fighters whose mood seems always to be in step with the occasion.
None of their 36 matches has been dull. Most of them have been epic. And they are near to their best to duel again for the US Open title.
This will be the sixth Monday final in a row, but the first scheduled, because the previous five were moved from the appointed Sunday finish by a mix of bad weather and bone-headed TV scheduling. No rain is forecast this time – it will be cloudy and cool with a 10mph breeze to confound the players' judgment – but there more than likely will be fireworks of sorts between adversaries who live on the extremities of their physical and mental capacity. It is a fair bet all but a few of the 22,547 seats will be occupied. Noisily.
Before the tournament, the Spaniard and the Serbian vied for favouritism and not much that has happened over the past fortnight has changed the consensus. Roger Federer, who won the last of his five titles in 2008, went meekly and tearfully; Andy Murray, whose only title here arrived a year ago, also departed a disappointed man. Others played their part, including Birmingham's favourite scallywag, Dan Evans, and Stanislas Wawrinka, who put out Murray with astonishing power and very nearly spoiled the script for Djokovic in a great semi-final on Saturday.
The two left standing have played magnificently, both have had to raise their games, Djokovic more than Nadal, who had played well in a more routine engagement of straight sets against the gifted but fragile Frenchman Richard Gasquet, who never the less stopped the Mallorcan's run of 88 games without dropping serve.
Djokovic said after watching that match: "With no doubt he's the best player in the moment this year, no question about it." Nadal said: "I was able to play three grand slams this season. I won one; I lost in the third round in another. That's a great result for me. I'm happy the way that I played since I came back."
That might be the understatement of the year – alongside Gasquet's post-match observation: "I think he was a little bit better than me."
His comeback has to rival that of Andre Agassi, who dragged himself back from the brink of oblivion to raid the upper echelons of the game again with such style – but Nadal's predicament was physical more than spiritual.
He never fell out of love with tennis and he knew he had to repair and rest his wounded knees or face the real possibility of retirement at just 27.
His seven-month sabbatical clearly worked. He has won 59 matches since returning, and lost just three, rising from No 5 in the world to No 2. He is unbeaten in 21 matches on the hard courts that did the damage to him in the first place – and he has instilled trepidation in every tournament he enters – winning nine of 12 so far – no matter the surface.
He says he is not thinking about displacing Djokovic as the world No1, that all that matters to him is winning this title. That no doubt is his match-day mind-set. And not terribly convincing.
Their rivalry is perfectly good-natured, with only the odd moment of friction (Djokovic's mimicking of Nadal's short-tugging and other tics amused everyone but his protagonist), but they are serious, driven champions. While Nadal has won 21 of the 36 encounters, he has never quite forgotten the run of six defeats Djokovic inflicted on him in 2011.
So, what about that rivalry with Djokovic, he was asked after beating Gasquet? As is his habit, he tried for self-deprecation. "I prefer to play against another one, but is what it is."
In his faltering English, he summed it up: "I want to play against a player that I have more chances to win. But I play against him. I played against him a lot of times [7-3 up in slams]. Always we played very exciting matches. When you play, when you are involved in these kind of matches, you feel special. We play long rallies, we bring our game to the limit."
The numbers – as impressive as they are – will matter little when they get down to it, a little after 10pm UK time. They might have the baggage of common history, but, once they settle into a rhythm, their strategies will not be much different from before, Nadal looking to crunch those wicked forehands wide to Djokovic's backhand, and Djokovic, the great rubber man of his sport, gathering in the howitzers and returning them with interest. They are one apiece here in finals. I favour Nadal to win in four sets.
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