US Open: Nadal wins in four sets

Rafael Nadal takes down Novak Djokovic in the men's final at the US Open in New York.

Nadal leads 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2

4th set:
Rafael Nadal held serve in the eighth game with a forehand winner and then Djokovic error to claim his first US Open. He then fell to the ground, full of emotion before rising and meeting Djokovic at the net.

Earlier Nadal and Djokovic both hold serve after Nadal had broken in consecutive games to take a 4-1 lead.

Djokovic had held serve to open the fourth set after Nadal squandered yet another break point.

3rd set:
Nadal 6-4

Djokovic started the third set in fine fashion, serving a strong game to take a 1-0 lead before Nadal won the second game to love and then secured a vital break against the third seed.

Nadal went close to a second break before Djokovic managed to hold serve but he still trailed the first seed 4-2.

Nadal failed to covert five break points in the seventh game which would have given him a chance to serve the set out at 5-2. Instead Djokovic held on to make it 4-3.

After the seventh game Nadal had converted just one break point from 11 attempts, and four from 21 for the match.

The set then went to serve before Nadal completed the set with a strong service game to hold a 2-1 set lead.


2nd set:
Djokovic 7-5

After a rain delay of almost two hours Nadal and Djokovic returned to the court to continue the US Open final and the Serbian took the early advantage winning the second set 7-5.

Djokovic held serve to take a 5-4 lead in the second set.

Nadal then tied the set up at 5-5 before Djokovic took out the 11th game with a deft little drop shot that was too accurate for the quick Spaniard.

Djokovic then broke Nadal's serve for the second time in the set to win the second set 7-5. The first set that Nadal has lost all tournament.

Djokovic must have welcomed the rain break after giving up a commanding 4-1 lead after an early break on Nadal's serve. The Serbian was serving to make it 5-2 and a strong chance to close out the second set but Nadal stepped up a gear to win the next three games making it 4-4 before the rain fell.

The second set went to serve until Djokovic got his second break of the match, winning the fourth game at love, to go out to a 3-1 lead. He followed that up with another four straight points to take a 4-1 lead.

Nadal looked flustered at the start of the sixth game, with his seventh unforced error of the game, before bouncing back to make it 4-2.

The top seed then broke Djokovic on the third attempt to close the gap to 4-3 and putting the set back on serve. Nadal then produced some stunning serves to tie the set up at 4-4.

1st set:
Nadal 6-4

Nadal broke the Serb in the opening game of the final going out to an early 2-0 lead before Djokovic broke back in the fourth game to make it 2-2.

Nadal squandered five break points in the fifth game before eventually taking control of the opening set with his second break.

Nadal then held serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead in the opening set. Djokovic bounced back with a strong service game to win four straight points, making it 4-3.

Nadal produced his own love-game to take a 5-3 lead.

Djokovic held serve before Nadal closed out the set 6-4. First blood to the Spaniard who is looking to become just the seventh men's player to complete the career grand slam.

- NZHERALD ONLINE