New York loves to crown kings. They crowned Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, Joe Namath and most recently Derek Jeter. New York loves excellence, demands it even. That is why there is no better place for Rafael Nadal's coronation. Sure, he still isn't quite the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT for future reference), but that is just a matter of age, not ability. He's not as accomplished as Roger Federer not because he isn't as good, but isn't as old. Rafael Nadal is now a king of the sport. He's done it all, and twice over. He's accomplished everything there is to accomplish, and he is now the Best Athlete in Sports.
I remember 2005, when I first watched Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer in the French Open Semifinal. It was something that at that time was refreshing and new. Federer clearly was no match for Nadal's quickness, defense and determination on clay, but that was the negating factor. For two years, Rafael Nadal could only do it on clay. There was a huge limitation to his game, in that it did not translate to any other surface. He couldn't hit flat enough, or serve big enough, or hit a good enough backhand. He couldn't hit winners, or even volley. Of course, that seems like an eternity ago. In a way, it was.
Fitting that Zidane would hand over Nadal's first slam trophy
Rafael Nadal first conquered the deficits in his groundstrokes, flattening his forehand at times and developing a deadly cross-court backhand. This helped him finally conquer grass, winning his epic 2008 Wimbledon title over Roger Federer, in a true changing of the guard. Then he developed a more offensive game, which helped conquer hard courts in his Australian Open win over, again, Roger Federer in 2009. Rafael Nadal was on top, and more than that, his ability and dominance over Federer would keep Federer for ever even attaining his Grand Slam Title record.
Nadal finally conquered another surface, starting Rafa's true rise.
Of course, that is when the hero falls. Nadal's aggressive, physical style was always his largest threat to himself (more than Federer, or anyone else), and it finally beat him. Tendonitis set in, followed by the divorce of his parents, which might have been a bigger factor to Rafael Nadal's fall. Rafa still lives in his parents compound in Mallorca. He's a family man through and through, coached by his Uncle, fed by his parents, which made the divorce a huge hurdle for Rafa to climb over, but like that forehand, backhand and passive play, he would climb all the peaks necessary to become the greatest.
Starting in April, with the Monte Carlo Masters, Rafael Nadal went through arguably the greatest five month period in Tennis history. He finished the clay court season winning each of the four largest tournaments, with dropping just two sets, period (none at the French Open, which he also did two years ago). He then went to Wimbledon and despite some early struggles, played his best tennis at the end, epically crushing the souls of every Briton in his win over Andy Murray in the semifinals. Next, came his biggest challenge, that old US Open.
Rafa Nadal's return to form was great, winning without dropping a set, again.
Rafa entered the US Open with no holes in his game, except for his serve. He had great spin, placement and probably the bets percentage of first serves in on tour, but it wasn't all that fast. Of course, in the first round, he banged home a first serve at 132. The second round, he smashed a 134, and finally, in the round of 16, against big serving-Feliciano Lopez, he drilled a serve at 135. He was serving bigger than Roger Federer, even. He was complete, perfect and brilliant. It should be noted he didn't even lose a set in any of those matches.
Rafael Nadal has more humility than any tennis player ever. He always gives credit to his opponent, even after mentally and physically overpowering that opponent to a broken pulp (like Federer was in his tearful meltdown after losing the 2009 Australian Open Final). He always answers any questions about his motivation with one response "I try every day to get better." And that is what fuels him every day, to get better. It isn't an empty answer or a falsehood, but a true one. He was once a player with many holes in his game, but one by one, by just getting better every day, trying to get better every day, he filled each one, and that led us all to last night.
Novak Djokovic is a worthy foe, a great player, and in the literal sense of the word, a champion. He's won a major, made at least the quarterfinals in 13 of the last 15 majors, and at least the semifinals in nine of those. With a day of rest, he was up for the challenge of spoiling Rafa's coronation two days after spoiling the impending Rafa-Roger final. Yet, he was no match for history and more so for Rafa Nadal. Rafael Nadal played with the determination and fire of one of the greats. He showed everything that made him a champion and everything that will make him a better one.
He was only 6/26 on converting break points, and in the third set, clinging to a one break lead, he was 1/11. Repeatedly he threw away 15-40 games. These things would have killed a player, losing out on all these chances. Lesser players would have choked away their serves after failing so many times. Not Nadal, who put each one of those opportunities immediately past him and went on to serve the set out. Nadal was unflappable at the tensest moments. Trying to serve out the third set, after failing on all those opportunities to attain a two break cushion, Nadal was down 15-30. What transpired next should be framed and sent to Smithsonian, and it probably put a huge frown on Roger Federer's face. Nadal served three straight first serves, all 125+, and all three were unreturnable. Game, set, and inevitably match.
Nadal, a man for all surfaces, finally wins the one thing that eluded him.
Rafael Nadal has a very good chance to win four straight majors at the 2011 Australian Open next January (he's already won it in 2009), and should be a near lock for the 2011 French Open title as well as the favorite at Wimbledon, but the future isn't clear sailing. Novak Djokovic is still only 23 and historically has had success against Nadal (7-4 now on hard court against him). Andy Murray still plays Rafa well (but few other players well), and the big question mark is Juan Martin del Potro, who won three straight against Rafael Nadal at the end of last year, who has the talents to be a big time major winner is almost back from a wrist injury. Through it all, though, Rafa Nadal is clearly the best today. He is also three ahead of Roger Federer's pace in winning majors. Rafa Nadal has nothing really in his way from history.
The Roger Federer era is over, but it was a great one. Some of his streaks, like five straight Wimbledons and five straight US Open's, Rafa Nadal, or likely no one else, will ever match. His 23 straight semifinals in majors is probably also unattainable, but likewise, there are things Rafael Nadal has accomplished that Federer hasn't and likely never will. Nadal has won three straight majors in a calendar year, plus has won mutliple slams an hard court, clay and grass (which only Mats Wilander has also done). Rafael Nadal may like to deflect questions of "Will you match Federer's 16 majors?" with "No, that is way too many", but soon it won't be too many. Soon that day will come, and when it does, the coronation will be final. Here's hoping it will again be on the green/blue concrete in Flushing, under the lights of New York City.
