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| Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating Kevin Anderson in the US Open final |
Rafael Nadal restored order to this eccentric US Open last night, easing to a comfortable 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over giant South African Kevin Anderson on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Nadal broke Anderson in the first set to go up 4-3, after the two players had held serve three games apiece. Nadal reaped bountifully from Anderson’s erratic forehand, such that midway in the first set, he had logged 20 unforced errors.
Sunday’s final marked Nadal’s fourth and the first time that he did not have Novak Djokovic standing on the other side of the net.
The world number one was as brilliant as he was business-like keeping the towering South African under constant pressure while not facing a single break point.
This was one of Nadal’s most ruthless performances on a hard court. It made a fitting moment for Toni Nadal, his uncle and coach, who is stepping down after this tournament to work at the family’s new tennis academy in Mallorca.
“I know is my last grand slam here,” Toni Nadal told ESPN interviewer Tom Rinaldi. “I very happy, many thanks for all the people in my life.”
