It’s a Sweet 16 for Rafael Nadal.
It looked like Roger Federer would have this year to himself, but his nemesis has put himself back into the conversation of matching the Swiss Maestro’s record of Grand Slam titles.
Nadal took out 28th-seeded Kevin Anderson in a drama-free 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 men’s final rout for his 16th career Grand Slam title, his third U.S. Open title and second major of 2017.
Looking as spry as ever at age 31 at Ashe Stadium, the lefty slugger from Mallorca never faced a break point on his serve. He lost just 15 points on his serve and looked as dominant late in the Flushing fortnight as he did on the red clay when bagging his record 10th French Open.
“Unbelievable what has happened this year,’’ Nadal said during the trophy presentation after winning his first Open since 2013 and first hardcourt event since the same year. “Since the first important event of the year in Australia, I’ve played a high level of tennis.’’
Later, he added, “It’s tough to win two Grand Slams. You only have four chances. It was a very special year.’’
At 16 major titles total, Nadal trails Federer by just three. The tennis year ended with the two old, great warriors splitting the four Grand Slam events, but Nadal cements himself as the world’s No. 1 player. Had Nadal not blown a 3-1 fifth-set lead to Federer in the Australian Open finals, that disparity in Slam titles would be 18-17.
“I really don’t think much about these things,’’ Nadal said. “He has 19. I have 16. So three is big difference. Of course this rivalry have been important for our sport. I think that was the great promotion for our sport.”
However, Nadal indicated health will determine whether he has a shot at Federer, whom he will team with in doubles for Team Europe at the inaugural Laver Cup later this month.
“Being healthy, you see everything more possible,’’ Nadal said. “With injuries, everything seems impossible. But being healthy and have the chance to practice well, everything changes. I still want to compete and still feel the nerves every time that I go on court. If [those] things keep happening, I will be here.”
In 2016, Nadal was beset by major left wrist issues, forcing him out of Wimbledon.
“The real disaster last season was the injuries,’’ Nadal said.
The air went out of the men’s draw when Federer was upset in the quarterfinals by Juan Martin Del Potro. It allowed Nadal an easier ride into the finals. In the 32nd-ranked Anderson, Nadal got to face the lowest-ranked player ever to reach the Open Finals since the ATP computer rankings began in 1973.
The 6-foot-8 Anderson, a one-dimensional big server, got this far primarily on a decimated draw in which three of the Big 5 were not present (Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka, Andy Murray).
But Nadal still had to go out and beat the hard-serving journeyman from South Africa and did so after a very competitive start to the match. Nadal’s victory also occurred during the final tournament his uncle, Toni Nadal, will serve as his full-time coach.
“Without him, I’d never be playing tennis,” Nadal said.
Consistency is Nadal’s hallmark and he rarely wavered, putting Anderson on the run enough to make it an easy victory. Nadal committed just 11 unforced errors across three sets.
“It is his competitiveness,’’ Anderson said. “He never goes away. Any time you leave a ball hanging for him, he’s really able to take advantage of it.’’
U.S. Open women’s champion Sloane Stephens, a brick wall Saturday with just six unforced errors, was in the stands watching the match after spending the morning at Central Park posing with the trophy. In Nadal, Stephens may have found a champion to resemble.
The first set was a taut one, but Nadal finally got to Anderson in the match’s seventh game, succeeding on his fifth break point. Anderson committed a double fault to set up Nadal’s advantage, then he pulled a forehand wide to fall behind 4-3.
Nadal closed out a set that lasted 58 minutes by breaking Anderson a second time. However, the match’s third game lasted 13 minutes and six deuces, and Nadal failed to break Anderson’s serve. Anderson served well in the set, hitting key aces of 136 mph and 131, but he couldn’t do anything against Nadal’s service.
The second set Nadal pounced quicker and pulled off the break at 3-2. Nadal won it at the net, putting away a forehand volley to move ahead 4-2. In the third set, Nadal muted the drama of a comeback by breaking Anderson in the first game.
“I was surprised in January,’’ Nadal said. “Now I am not that much surprised, no?