Rafa Nadal rolls to third US Open title and his 16th career major after thrashing Kevin Anderson
Spaniard overwhelms first-time major finalist 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win his third championship at Flushing Meadows
His game at a high level at the end of an unusually easy path through a grand slam field, Nadal overwhelmed first-time major finalist Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win his third championship at Flushing Meadows.
It is the number one-ranked Nadal’s second grand slam title of the year and 16th overall. Among men, only long-time rival Roger Federer has more, with 19.
At No 32, Anderson was the lowest-ranked US Open men’s finalist since the ATP computer rankings began in 1973. The 31-year-old South African never had been past the quarter finals at any major tournament in 33 previous appearances, so when he won his semi-final on Friday, he climbed into the stands to celebrate.
There would be no such joy for him on this day. Nadal simply dominated every facet of the 2½-hour final.
Nadal added to his US Open triumphs in 2010 and 2013 and improved to 16-7 in grand slam finals. For the first time since 2013, he appeared in three in a single season, losing to Federer at the Australian Open in January, then beating Stan Wawrinka for his record 10th French Open trophy in June.
