Rafa beats Medvedev in a epic five-setter to clinch 19th Grand Slam title

Rafael Nadal saw off Russia’s Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a four hours and 50 minutes long marathon US Open final on Sunday to capture his 19th Grand Slam title in thrilling fashion. It was also his fourth US Open title.

The 33-year-old Spanish left-hander moved one shy of Roger Federer’s all-time men’s record 20 Grand Slam triumphs and became the second-oldest New York champion in the Open era after Ken Rosewall in 1970 at age 35.

World No.2 Nadal took the top prize of $3.85 million at Arthur Ashe Stadium and added to his US Open trophy haul from 2010, 2013 and 2017.

Nadal, who was in his fifth US Open Championship match and 27th Grand Slam final, is the first man to claim five major titles after turning 30.

But it took a supreme effort from the Spanish maestro, who nearly became the first player to drop the final after leading by two sets since Frederick Schroeder in 1949.

Nadal, who rose to 22-12 in five-set matches, has dropped only one Grand Slam match out of more than 200 when he has won the first two sets, the loss coming at the hands of Italy’s Fabio Fognini in the 2015 US Open third round.

At four hours and 50 minutes, the match finished four minutes shy of equalling the longest final in US Open history from Mats Wilander’s 1988 win and Andy Murray’s 2012 title.