15 years ago in 2002,when Pete Sampras won at Flushing Meadows, he took his 14th grand slam in what was his career ending tourney.Roy Emerson’s singles slams record stood for about 29 years.Who knew Pistol Pete’s record was not going to last one decade even as by 2009 Wimbledon,Roger Federer had eclipsed this taking his 15th slam.Roger had taken this current record to 19 by taking two slams earlier this season.
If Roger’s record can be claimed to be insurmountable,US open provided the perfect scene to cap a possible 20th slam, something of an enigma.Tennis was rejuvenated this year with the return of the Swiss icon alongside his long time rival and tennis legend, Rafael Nadal who claimed his 15th slam earlier this year at Roland Garros, a slam Roger missed intentionally to concentrate on Wimbledon’s grass.With Rafa claiming the world no 1 ranking heading into Tennis’ Fall classic,the scenario was set for the 1st ever clash between the two veterans at Flushing Meadows.
However the organisers had other procedures to run.Andy Murray’s late withdrawal added to Kei Nishikori,Milos Raonic,Novak Djokovic meant only six of the top eleven players competed.In a decision that probably influenced a significant blow to the tourney,both Nadal and Federer ended up in the same half of the draw, which handicapped the bottom half.On top of that the bottom half seeds fell quickly including Sascha Zverev (No.4 seed) and Gregor Dimitrov(No. 7 seed)as well as former US open champion Marin Cilic (No.5 seed).
With the new roof in its second year and another one en route,the action was non stop on Arthur Ashe and saw the return of a former champion.Juan Martin Del Potro won a classic final in 2009 and he produced one of the comebacks of this tournament if not his career,with match point down against Dominic Thiem in the fourth round.Del Po rolled against the scoreboard and his fever to mark a five set return and generate a much needed life into the tourney.His reward was another match up on the famed centre stadium against Roger.
The bottom half minus all its stars whether through injury or knockouts was largely subdued.Amidst this,Denis Shapovalov appeared as a possible star until Pablo Carreno-Busta matched him three tie break sets win in the fourth round. Pablo had a dream run that took him to the semis where he met his match against a long time grand slam struggler,Kenneth Anderson.Anderson played some of the best tennis of his career to overcome Sam Querrey in the quarters which the home favourite was destined to win.Obviously there will be a huge question mark considering the absences but credit to Anderson still making it through to his first ever grand slam final.
Del Po lived a new life in his quarterfinal.Facing Roger under the wednesday night lights of a packed Ashe,the first two sets were split.Roger had a huge chance to take the third set but foiled on four set points in the tie breaker to give advantage to the Argentine.Del Po couldn’t be stopped after that.He had undergone four wrist surgeries in the time between that last famous 2009 duel at the US Open final.
Rafa on the other hand drifted well in the top half squeezing the life out of the Deco turf and playing it as if it was a cousin of the red clay he shines on in June.He blitzed the 19 yr old Andrey Rublev in a one sided quarter that saved quite a bit of time.The semi final against Del Po was hyped to be the match of the tourney.Del Po was in immense form taking the first set matching Rafa with aggression.However what came after was if all the gas had leaked out of his tank.Rafa in no time was level with a 6-0 comeback in second set. On a roll of nine straight games, he took the third set as well, 6-3.Del Po had nothing left it seemed. Rafa took the fourth set 6-2 to sail into his fourth US open final.
The final was a foregone conclusion.Rafa had too much power, experience and an all round game to nail it in straight sets.Anderson had almost no chance. It was Uncle Toni’s last match as Rafa’s coach.Rafa didn’t let him down.His 16th grand slam and third in New York ended a lean hard court run which stretched since January 2014.He retained his no.1 ranking and this completed a clean sweep of 2017 slams by the two leading grand slam winners ever in men’s tennis.Once again the deficit is reduced to two.
The US Open is a usually the grand slam climax of the year.We were denied a possible a first ever Nadal- Federer match up again at Flushing Meadows but more of that in 2018 will wet appetite of many heading into Melbourne in January.”Pistol” Pete and Roy Emerson will hopefully be watching.
Sportsfan Says 