September 13, 2011 | By Eric C. Peck
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And at 8:20 p.m. EST on Monday night, top-seeded Novak Djokovic dropped to the court of Arthur Ashe Stadium, part jubilation, part exhaustion, in celebration of his 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (3), 6-1 2011 U.S. Open finals win over the number two seed, Rafael Nadal, thus ending this year’s event in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. For four hours and 10 min., the top-ranked Serbian and second-seeded Spaniard Nadal battled for the Open title, Djokovic’s first ever and third Grand Slam title of the year, alongside his Wimbledon and Australian Open titles. The win was also sweet revenge for Djokovic, a 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6 loser to Nadal in last year’s U.S. Open. The win also increases Djokovic’s record in 2011 to a historic 64-2.
Djokovic, who battled issues with his back all match, won his first career U.S. Open crown and fourth Grand Slam title in the 24-year-old’s short career. During the fourth set, Djokovic summoned a trainer during a medical timeout to tend to a muscle strain on the left side of his back.
"I had the rib problem and they had to mobilize my back as well, and some cramps in the leg. So it was more than one thing," said Djokovic.
"It was a tough match, physically, mentally, but I think it was a quality match," said Nadal. "I appreciate the result. The finals is a fantastic result. Winning 10 Grand Slams so far, and this year, I won another at Roland Garros. I also lost six finals matches, but I was there. So it’s smart to accept the loses with the same calm as the victories, and keep working without thinking about the past."
Djokovic’s path to the finals included two matches where his opponent was forced to retire, including his opening round match against Ireland’s Conor Niland and his quarterfinals match against the 20th-seeded Serbain Janko Tipsarevic. Things didn’t get easier for Djokovic as standing in his path to the finals Saturday afternoon was the third-seeded Roger Federer from Switzerland. The top-seeded Serb was tested by Federer, but prevailed to advance to today’s finals with a tough-fought 6-7(7-9), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 win.
"It’s really hard to find the words that can describe the feeling that I had and that I still have," said Djokovic of his win. "But I know this couldn’t come overnight. It’s a long process. Throughout my life, I’ve been working, being committed to this sport 100 percent. That’s the only the way you can really succeed: The right balance between private life and life on the tour, which is very demanding."
For Nadal, his path to today’s finals included an opening round win against Andrey Golubev from Kazakhstan; an east day against Frenchman Nicolas Mahut who was forced to retire; a 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 win over American Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals; and a semifinal win over the fourth-seeded Andy Murray on Saturday.
Credit all photos to Kenneth B. Goldberg
2011 U.S. Open winner Novak Djokovic expresses his gratitude to the New York crowd after his Monday finals match with Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal battled back valiantly, but still fell in defeat to the eventual U.S. Open winner, Serbian Novak Djokovic
Under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium top-ranked Novak Djokovic took home his third Grand Slam title of 2011
Rafael Nadal was seeking his second consecutive U.S. Open title, but ran into top-seeded Novak Djokovic in the finals
