Rafael Nadal is going to need a new goal.
The 24-year-old Spaniard capped his career Grand Slam on Monday night in New York, winning a rain-delayed U.S. Open final against Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Nadal becomes just the seventh player to win all four Grand Slams in a career and only the second to also have an Olympic gold medal to his credit.
Winning the Open had been Nadal's ultimate goal since returning from a knee injury last year. He retooled his game to fit the hard courts at Flushing Meadows and it paid off. Rafa lost only one set in the tournament and, other than a brief moment after the two-hour rain delay Monday night, his victory in New York never seemed in doubt.
Nadal has three more Slams than Roger Federer did at the same age and now it's realistic to wonder whether he can top Federer's record of 16 Slams. Federer isn't done winning yet, but if Rafa stays healthy he's bound to get close to Fed's record and get in the discussion for greatest-of-all-time honors.
If Nadal continues to play his game with dedication,the day is not far when he would be The Top Seed.All he needs to do is keep his game strong and himself fit.His hardwork is definitley worth an appreciation for he went one step ahead of Rod Laver(who won the slams on two different surfaces) by winning the slams on three different surfaces.If he wants to become the greatest contender to win all the Grand Slams,he needs to win the Australian Open.This would give him the so called 'Serena Slam'(holding the title to all four Slams at once,but not in a calender year).
In his post-match comments, Djokovic said Rafa is currently the best player in the world. By the time his career is over, he may be the greatest who ever lived.
Rafa is a soldier but where is my freddie.....missing him....hate to see him loose...worst part is when he doesn't even qualify.....very very depressing :(
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