Rafael Nadal won his ninth Grand Slam on Monday defeating Novak Djokovic in four tight sets. It was perhaps his greatest triumph. Nadal won the US Open for the first time—ever. It was the one Grand Slam missing from his others. He is only the seventh man to complete a career slam, meaning that he has won all four slams at some point in his career, including the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Furthermore, Nadal won three out of the four Grand Slams this year. He is the first man to do this since Rod Laver in 1969. There is no doubt in my mind that Nadal is a great tennis player and his career is on the rise.
Just how great is Rafael Nadal though? I mean, he only has won nine Grand Slams; he is not even in the double digits! Roger Federer, the man who has won the most Grand Slams in tennis history, has sixteen. What is nine compared to sixteen? On nadalvsfederer.com, they compare these two tennis greats. When Federer was Nadal’s age five years ago, he had won 33 ATP events, 8 Masters, and 6 majors. Nadal has won 43 ATP events, 18 Masters, and 9 majors. Nadal however has spend less weeks at number one than Federer, but this just makes what he has accomplished all the more incredible. Federer is approaching his decline at the age of 29; whereas, Nadal is just starting to peak at 24. There will certainly be many years ahead for the young Spaniard to catch up and eventually surpass Federer. It is time to usher in the Nadal era.
Rafael Nadal faced a formidable adversary in Novak Djokovic at the US Open Final. Djokovic was number three in the world, but since then, he has gained the number two spot bumping Federer down to third in the world for the first time in a long time. Djokovic has been playing some of the best tennis in his career thus far. According to usopen.org, Nadal’s first serve percentage was 67%; he had 8 aces, 31 unforced errors, and a 23% break point conversion average. Djokovic’s first serve percentage was 66%, only a percent less than Nadal’s. He had 5 aces, 47 unforced errors, and a 75% break point conversion average. This shows that Djokovic took opportunities when he had them, and he made the points count when they mattered the most. Both players fought hard, but Nadal’s raw determination to finally claim the elusive US Open won out. However, Djokovic is an up and comer with a Grand Slam already under his belt who is sure to cause a few upsets.
Just how great is Rafael Nadal though? I mean, he only has won nine Grand Slams; he is not even in the double digits! Roger Federer, the man who has won the most Grand Slams in tennis history, has sixteen. What is nine compared to sixteen? On nadalvsfederer.com, they compare these two tennis greats. When Federer was Nadal’s age five years ago, he had won 33 ATP events, 8 Masters, and 6 majors. Nadal has won 43 ATP events, 18 Masters, and 9 majors. Nadal however has spend less weeks at number one than Federer, but this just makes what he has accomplished all the more incredible. Federer is approaching his decline at the age of 29; whereas, Nadal is just starting to peak at 24. There will certainly be many years ahead for the young Spaniard to catch up and eventually surpass Federer. It is time to usher in the Nadal era.
Rafael Nadal faced a formidable adversary in Novak Djokovic at the US Open Final. Djokovic was number three in the world, but since then, he has gained the number two spot bumping Federer down to third in the world for the first time in a long time. Djokovic has been playing some of the best tennis in his career thus far. According to usopen.org, Nadal’s first serve percentage was 67%; he had 8 aces, 31 unforced errors, and a 23% break point conversion average. Djokovic’s first serve percentage was 66%, only a percent less than Nadal’s. He had 5 aces, 47 unforced errors, and a 75% break point conversion average. This shows that Djokovic took opportunities when he had them, and he made the points count when they mattered the most. Both players fought hard, but Nadal’s raw determination to finally claim the elusive US Open won out. However, Djokovic is an up and comer with a Grand Slam already under his belt who is sure to cause a few upsets.
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