Nadal sees off Medvedev in epic to win 4th US Open crown

TIL Desk Sports/ Rafael Nadal survived a heroic Daniil Medvedev fight-back to claim an epic 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 win and a fourth US Open title on Sunday, moving within one Grand Slam crown of matching Roger Federer’s record of 20. A routine end to the Flushing Meadows fortnight looked on the cards when Nadal, already two sets up, broke for a 3-2 lead over the tall Russian in the third with the 19th Grand Slam title apparently in the bag.

From that point, however, the match was transformed into a near five-hour thriller as Medvedev staged a comeback that left the Spaniard shaken and Arthur Ashe Stadium buzzing. “An amazing final — seemed that I had the match more or less, it has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career,” Nadal said.

“This victory means a lot especially because of the way the match became so difficult, so tough. These type of matches in the final of a Grand Slam make them special.”The 33-year-old lefthander became second oldest US Open champion in the professional era behind Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 35 when he lifted the title in 1970.