Watch now

Top fast facts from Nadal’s US Open win over Medvedev

By Nina Pantic

NEW YORK—Rafael Nadal overcame a sizzling hot Daniil Medvedev, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to win the US Open on Sunday. The world No. 2 was up a break in third set before Medvedev found another gear to win a set. Still, despite the tension, Nadal has a 206-1 record at Slams after winning the first set and Medvedev has never won a five-set match.

2019 US Open Men's Final - Nadal Def. Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4

Nadal was in tears after finally putting away the world No. 5 and watching a video of his 19 major victories.

"Yeah, at the end with the video, the crowd that have been as always amazing, all these facts that make the moment super special, no?" Nadal said, "Unforgettable moment."

1

The win is his 19th Grand Slam and first non-clay major since winning the 2017 US Open. Now he’s just one away from Roger Federer and three ahead of Novak Djokovic. It’s his fourth US Open crown, having won his first in 2010, and he improves to a 65-11 record in New York.

"I always say the same: I would love to be the one who win more, but I am not thinking and I not going to practice every day or not playing tennis for it," he said "I am playing tennis because I love to play tennis."

NNEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spain ret during the third set of his Men's Singles final match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia on day fourteen of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

2

It was his second time facing Medvedev, having dispatched the 23-year-old Russian in the Montreal final, 6-3, 6-0. Medvedev was playing his first-ever major final with his previous best Slam result being the fourth round in Melbourne earlier this season. He was the second player this fortnight to win a set off the world No. 2 and the first to push Nadal to a deciding set.

TOPSHOT - Rafael Nadal of Spain (R) holds the trophy after his win over Daniil Medvedev of Russia (L) during the men's Singles Finals match at the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 8, 2019. - Rafael Nadal captured his 19th career Grand Slam title in thrilling fashion on Sunday by winning the US Open final, outlasting Russia's Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 to seize his fourth crown in New York. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo credit should read JOHANNES EISELE/AFP/Getty Images)
© AFP/Getty Images

3

Celebrities were everywhere during Sunday's final including Uma Thurman, Alexander Skarsgard, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Michael Douglas, Lindsay Vonn and Rod Laver, who was celebrating the 50th anniversary of his second calendar-year Grand Slam.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Rod Laver, tennis champion, watches the Men's Singles final match between Rafael Nadal of Spain and Daniil Medvedev of Russia on day fourteen of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

4

Since 2006, 54 of the 56 major finals have included one of the Big Three. The only exceptions include the 2014 US Open (Marin Cilic def. Kei Nishikori) and 2016 Wimbledon (Andy Murray def. Milos Raonic) finals.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 08: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves during the second set of his Men's Singles final match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia on day fourteen of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 08, 2019 in the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
© Getty Images

5

Despite the win, Nadal will remain at No. 2 in the rankings. He’s closed the gap with Djokovic to 640 points. Medvedev moves up to a career-high of No. 4.

"Just very happy. This trophy means everything to me today," Nadal said. "Personal satisfaction the way that I resisted all these tough moments is very high. Just I normally try to hold the emotions, but at the end for all these facts have been impossible today."