US Open 2017

Rafael Nadal against Kevin Anderson in the US Open Final shaped up as quite a mismatch. His game at a high level at the end of an unusually easy path through a Grand Slam field, Nadal overwhelmed first time major finalist Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win his third championship at Flushing Meadows.

It is the No. 1-ranked Nadal’s second Grand Slam title of the year and 16th overall. Among men, only Roger Federer has more, with 19. Each of those two long-time rivals won two of the four majors in 2017, marking a return of both to the heights of their sport. Not only didn’t an injury-hampered Nadal win a Grand Slam tournament in 2015 or 2016—his first such shutouts since 2004, when he was still a teenager—but he didn’t even make it to a final in that span.

At No.32, Anderson was the lowest-ranked US Open men’s finalist since the ATP computer rankings began in 1973. The 31-year-old South African never had been past the quarterfinals at any major tournament in 33 previous appearances, so when he won his semifinal on Friday, he climbed into the stands to celebrate. There would be no such joy for him on this day. Nadal simply dominated every facet of the 2½-hour final.

Nadal added to his US Open triumphs in 2010 and 2013 and improved to 16-7 in Grand Slam finals. For the first time since 2013, he appeared in three in a single season, losing to Federer at the Australian Open in January and then beating Stan Wawrinka for his record 10th French Open trophy in June. Nadal’s career haul also includes two trophies from Wimbledon and one from the Australian Open. All of his big victories have come while being coached by his uncle, Toni, who is now stepping aside.

Sloane Stephens won Women’s single title. Jean Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau won Men’s doubles title. Chan Yung Jan and Martina Hingis won the Women’s double title. Martina Hingis and Jamie Murray won the Mixed doubles titles.