Novak Djokovic grabbed his fourth major title of the season as he defeated defending US Open champion Rafael Nadal in four sets. It was quite clear that Djokovic was the better man on the court at the end of the first set but Nadal kept fighting like a lion although Nole was hammering him time and again. The Spaniard won the third set through sheer determination but in the end Djokovic prevailed. It was a great match, Djokovic played absolutely great but hats off to Nadal who just kept slamming the ball back from all over the court. After watching this final I think that Djokovic is probably the best tennis player I have ever seen and I believe that he will dominate this sport for years.
RESULTS - MONDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER, 2011Singles - Final[1] N Djokovic (SRB) d [2] R Nadal (ESP) 62 64 67(3) 61
Here is what the two players had to say after the game:
Djokovic: “I guess it takes some time to realise the success that I had this year, especially now winning another major. It's going to probably all settle down towards the end of the year when I take some time off and analyse the year. But right now I'm all over positive emotions. It's really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I have still.
I think I've played a great match really from the start to the end. Even though I
lost the third set, I was a break up three times in that set. Maybe I should not drop my serve in those moments. The way I look at it, it takes a lot of mental energy and physical energy to win against these guys, especially Rafa. He never gives up. You could see that today. Two sets and a break down and serving for the match and he's coming back. That's why he's a great champion. So when I lost this third set it wasn't fun, definitely. I knew that I am not physically there. I'm not as fit as I was at the start of the match, so I needed to take chances, and I did. It was an incredible set for me.
Maybe it is the best match I played in the US Open so far this year. I stepped on the court believing I can win, and I was hitting the balls from the baseline really strong and flat. I didn't give him any comfort, any rhythm. I was kind of trying to keep control of the match; it was working well.”
Nadal: "I fought until the last point. I tried my best in every moment. I am happy with a lot of things, much happier than the previous matches against him. In other things I'm not that happy. But in general I think he did great. I had my chances. I really had my chances. I always had big trouble beating him here on this surface in the past. It's not an exception now, especially because he's doing better than ever. But you know what? I go back home knowing that I am on the way. I like to fight; I want to enjoy this battle against him. Six straight losses, for sure that's painful. But I'm going to work every day until that changes.
I don't feel any obligation to win the tournament. That's the truth. I am not that one that feels that the final is a bad result. I don't consider myself that good. I fight to be always there. I fight all the time to win every match. I appreciate the result. Final is a fantastic result. Winning ten Grand Slams, this year I won another one, Roland Garros. It's smart to accept the losses with the same calm as the victories, and keep working without thinking on the past."
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