Rafa Nadal has never taken his talent for granted. Of the three players who have defined his era, he is the most humble. So, as he stands on the verge of surpassing Roger Federer’s 20 majors and drawing away from the 16 owned by Novak Djokovic, he knows that beating one of the hunting pack, Daniil Medvedev, to win his fourth US Open was significant in more ways than one.
Sunday’s teeth-grinding five‑setter, which he could have ended way before its eventual five hours and 40 minutes’ duration, proved to everyone – including the winner – that, at 33, he has the will to continue. For others of that age or thereabouts, the questions are different: none dream of bettering Federer or Djokovic; all of them are happy to be still standing, including Andy Murray, whose comeback from hip surgery continues steadily away from the main stage.
Continue reading...