In this last grand slam of 2019, a 19-year-old won the women's title at the US Open, and Rafael Nadal landed his 19th major Sunday (Sep 8) in dramatic fashion to creep up on Roger Federer on the grand slam ladder. A day after Bianca Andreescu defeated Serena Williams to win her first -- and Canada's first -- singles grand slam, Nadal survived against debut grand slam finalist Daniil Medvedev of Russia 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a four-hour, 50-minute thriller in New York.
Rafael Nadal won his 19th Grand Slam title after holding off Russian Daniil Medvedev's exhilarating fightback in one of the greatest US Open finals. Spain's Nadal, 33, won 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 against the fifth seed in New York.
Nadal, seeded second, was cruising at two sets and a break up, only for Medvedev to force a decider. But Nadal stopped his momentum to clinch a thrilling win in four hours and 50 minutes - just four minutes shorter than the longest US Open final.
Nadal's victory moves him within one of Swiss rival Roger Federer's all-time leading tally of Grand Slam victories.
"It has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career," Nadal said.
Nadal, Federer and Djokovic have won the past 12 Grand Slams after the Spaniard lifted the trophy in New York for a fourth time.
Now Nadal has the chance to draw level with 38-year-old Federer, who was nine titles better off than his long-time rival in 2007, at the Australian Open in January.
