NEW YORK, September 9, 2019

World No. 2 Rafael Nadal clinched his fourth US Open crown. The 33-year-old Spaniard defeated No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who made his Grand Slam final debut on Sunday, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4.

Nadal, who came into his fifth US Open final with a nine-match winning streak, led by two sets and a break before Medvedev launched an astonishing comeback. The Mallorcan-born, however, won 12 points more than his opponent and secured victory after four hours and 50 minutes of breathtaking tennis to become the second-oldest US Open champion in the Open Era since Ken Rosewall (35) in 1970.

“It has been an amazing final. Tonight everybody saw why [Medvedev] is the No 4 player already at 23 years old. The way he was able to fight, change the rhythm of the match was just incredible,” Nadal said.

“This victory means a lot, especially the way the match became so difficult, so tough.

“The nerves were so high after having the match under control. It was a crazy match.

“I don’t know. I’m just emotional.”

Fantastic 4⃣@RafaelNadal | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/5phasWwfnV

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 9, 2019

Medvedev said during his on-court speech:

“I know early in tournament I said it in a bad way, now I’m saying in a good way. It was because of your energy that I’m in a Grand Slam final.”

The 23-year-old from Moscow also joked “If I had won what would they show?”, when talking about the video montage of Nadal’s Grand Slam titles.

“I was looking at the screen when they were showing No. 1, No. 2. No. 19. I was like, if I win, what would they show?!”