Editor’s Note: This article was originally published on 26 August 2019, ahead of the season’s final Grand Slam tournament. Rafael Nadal will play Daniil Medvedev on Sunday in the 2019 US Open final.

An imposing number of wins on clay (21) has overshadowed another of Nadal’s impressive year-to-date stats: Entering the US Open, the Spaniard holds the best victory ratio on hard courts this season with 17 match wins against two losses for a success rate of 88 per cent. A recent triumph at the Coupe Rogers in Montreal extended his record of ATP Masters 1000 titles to 35 and reaffirmed his position as a serious contender ahead of the hard-court major.

On Sunday, the 18-time Grand Slam champion took to the outer courts of the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows for a practice session with World No. 9 Karen Khachanov. Coaches Carlos Moya and Francis Roig were on hand to oversee Nadal’s practice work. After the session, coach Roig spoke with ATPTour.com to discuss the World No. 2’s preparations ahead of the US Open and why he’s more dangerous than ever on hard courts.

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From what I’ve observed from the sidelines, Nadal is finding his rhythm and fine-tuning his game just in time for Tuesday’s opening round match at the US Open.
Except for one morning when we trained in the indoor arena (with Alexander Zverev), then practised with Diego Schwartzman later in the day, every other session has gone well. Rafa is bringing the same dynamics he utilised in Montreal to lift the trophy. He played extremely well there; he was aggressive and that has proven to be the key to success on faster surfaces. I believe he has taken a step forward and found his footing, specifically on hard courts.

He’s looked comfortable on this surface for a while now.
Rafa is feeling more complete now on the faster hard courts. He has much more confidence in his serve and has managed to boost the speed of both his first and second serves. This affords him many “easy” points. He’s also improved his all-court game and feels more sure of himself when approaching the net and volleying. Another aspect where he’s improved is on the backhand side; these days, he’s more assertive with that shot and isn’t afraid to step into the court with an approach shot on that side. Whereas he once backed off attacking shorter balls, he’s now more poised and sees those shots as opportunities to end the point. All these elements combined make for a more complete, assured Rafa; no longer does every point have to be an epic battle of attrition.

Is it difficult to introduce changes when Nadal has been so successful for so long competing with his distinctive style of play?
Well, we still have our differences about that … [laughs]. Both Charly [Moya] and I would rather have him build on the foundation that’s led to where he is today, but it’s hard to persuade Rafa sometimes. We’d rather he be more assertive than continue to sit back and wait.

And how have you convinced him to be more aggressive?
It is one thing to have an arsenal of weapons and a whole other thing to be swayed into utilizing it. I think Rafa has been coming around to that little by little. In his mind, he’s managed to win Grand Slams without playing this “refined” way; he’s gained praise and found success by engaging in drawn-out affairs and wearing down opponents. To give you an example: Back in 2013, his game was stellar, and he performed spectacularly throughout the season; in my opinion, though, the present version of Rafa looks more qualified to build a point and to work over an opponent. These days, he’s dictating play more; he shouldn’t be playing the “sit back and wait” game. I think he is realizing the value of building up a point with a more pointed attack and he’s evolving into a more well-rounded player in the process.

You have put a lot of emphasis on the word “build.”
By that, I mean don’t wait to see what happens. In my mind, as soon as the ball bounces, Rafa should be on top of it, ready for contact, prepared for impact. Obviously, if you’re playing an inspired [Roger] Federer and catch him on one of his days, that might not be the best approach every single point because of the way Federer strikes the ball and how it comes toward an opponent. Anything short, however, must be struck in a way to make Federer pay. Opportunities like those must not be wasted; chances to go on the offense must be handled with aggression. It’s important for Rafa to place himself as close to the location of the bounce as possible to guarantee he’s the one building the point in his favor. When one is sitting back in a comfort zone, chances are the opponent is settling down and into a groove as well.  

This season, Nadal holds the best win per cent on hard court at 88 per cent (15-2).
I’ve said this a lot lately: In the past, there was the sense that certain opponents and styles could defeat us on this surface in three-set tournaments. Now, I think there must be a chain of events and circumstances for us to lose. Historically it has always been better to play five sets, because if Rafa got off to a rough start, he would have that much more time to recover and find his form. Rafa no longer needs that cushion, knowing he has time to get back into a match. He’s more comfortable and in control on the faster surfaces these days, even in three-set matches.

How has that more secure frame of mind been reflected?
Not only has he been winning, but it’s the way he’s been winning. The results are more convincing or at least the feeling is that he’s winning more matches by playing well, instead of outlasting opponents or hoping for changes of fortune. This boosts his confidence. He arrives [in New York] with mental fortitude and more convinced that he can thrive. On top of that, he’s convinced he can secure the No. 1 spot in the [ATP] Race [to London]. That might be a bonus, but it does help drive his motivation.

John Millman awaits Nadal in Tuesday’s first round match. Does Millman’s upset of Roger Federer last year [3-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3)] on this same stage make Rafa a little more alert?
We are always alert. Rafa is the first to sense that; you don’t need to tell him. Personally, I think Millman will take a measured approach and understand that while his upset over Federer last year was a huge statement, he’ll go into the match against Rafa just as eager and with the goal of making a strong run in the tournament this year. It is also true that the weather and conditions last year were different; it was tremendously hot and this year it seems that it will not be as extreme.

Millman is also not an unknown commodity; Nadal and Millman have met once before.
Exactly. We played Millman at Wimbledon two years ago (d. Millman 6-1, 6-3, 6-2). Today, Millman is a more experienced, more dangerous player. But, in the end, every match is difficult, no matter the round or opponent, and Rafa knows as well as anyone he’ll have to proceed with caution if he’s to advance deeper into the tournament.

Daniil Medvedev was one of the hottest players on the ATP Tour entering the US Open, reaching the final in Washington and Montreal before claiming his first ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Cincinnati. But could he replicate that form in Flushing Meadows?

The 23-year-old has made the answer to that question clear. Medvedev defeated 2017 Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to reach his maiden Grand Slam final.

“Today I felt that he was closer to winning the first set, but I won it and that changed the momentum of the match,” Medvedev said in his post-match on-court interview.

Medvedev joins former World No. 1s Ivan Lendl (1982) and Andre Agassi (1995) as the only players to make the Washington, Canada, Cincinnati and US Open finals in the same season during the Open Era (since 1968). He is now 20-2 during the North American summer swing.

“When I came to the USA I didn’t know that it would be this good,” said Medvedev, who has a tour-leading 50 wins in 2019, including 37 on hard courts. “I have to say I love [the] USA.”

^{* Nadal is competing in the evening’s second semi-final}
The 2017 Next Gen ATP Finals qualifier made the Round of 16 of a major just once before this tournament, and he didn’t move past the third round in two previous trips to New York. But Medvedev, who guaranteed his spot at the Nitto ATP Finals for the first time with his quarter-final victory over Stan Wawrinka, is the first Russian to reach a major championship match since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open.

Medvedev was calm and composed — as if he has been in this situation numerous times — patiently camping behind the baseline and repelling Dimitrov’s offence over and over until the Bulgarian’s game slowly began to break down. The World No. 5 advanced to the final after two hours and 38 minutes, setting a clash with three-time champion Rafael Nadal or first-time major semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini.  

Entering the match, Medvedev had broken opponents 28 times to lead all semi-finalists. And he continued that trend in this match, breaking on five of his nine chances. 

Dimitrov showed throughout the encounter that he would try to blast a forehand at any opportunity and move his way to net, using his knifing backhand slice to try to elicit a ball he could swing away at. But Medvedev never got frustrated, playing steadier tennis as the match went on to earn one of the biggest wins of his career.

The five-time ATP Tour champion dominated both the short rallies and the long rallies. Medvedev won rallies of less than five shots by a margin of 63-54, and rallies that lasted longer than eight shots 30-21 to earn just his second straight-sets triumph of the tournament (R1, def. Gunneswaran).

With a Berrettini loss against Nadal, Medvedev will become the youngest US Open finalist since Novak Djokovic (23) in 2010 (l. to Nadal). He can become youngest champion since Juan Martin del Potro (20) in 2009 (d. Federer).

Dimitrov arrived in Flushing Meadows having lost seven of eight matches, including a straight-sets defeat to World No. 405 Kevin King at the BB&T Atlanta Open in July. But the Bulgarian did a complete 360-degree turn in form in New York, advancing to the last four at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center for the first time.

Did You Know?
Medvedev, who leads the ATP Tour with seven finals this year (2-4), will climb to a career-high No. 4 in the ATP Rankings on Monday regardless of his result in the final. The Russian first cracked the Top 10 on 15 July, the day after Wimbledon ended.

As It Happened
Set 1
It took some time for both players to settle in, with Medvedev breaking immediately for a 1-0 lead in the first set and Dimitrov responding to even the opener at 2-2. The average rally length for the majority of the first set exceeded seven shots, with both men seemingly working into form, and Dimitrov typically taking the first strike when he could.

Dimitrov earned a set point on Medvedev’s serve at 6-5, getting a look at a second-serve return. But the Russian displayed no fear, hitting an inside-out forehand approach shot that led to an error on a backhand pass from the Bulgarian’s racquet. And in the tie-break — in which more points were won by the returner (7) than the server (5) — Medvedev was simply a bit steadier, gaining the advantage when Dimitrov miss hit a forehand on the first set point against him.

The Bulgarian could not capitalise on winning two more points overall in the opener and had a far better winner-to-unforced error ratio. Dimitrov hit 14 winners to 15 unforced errors in the first set whereas Medvedev struck just seven winners to 18 unforced errors.

Set 2
Dimitrov shook off any initial disappointment after letting slip chances in the first set by breaking to start the second set, trying to pump himself up and get the crowd involved. But the eight-time ATP Tour champion struggled to hold, losing his next two service games as Medvedev reduced his unforced errors.

As the match ticked near and then past the two-hour mark, Dimitrov began swooping into the net more, pushing the pace of rallies against the Medvedev wall. But despite breaking back, and later earning three game points on his serve that would have evened the set at 5-5, the Bulgarian missed into the net to give his opponent a daunting two-set lead. That proved costly, as Medvedev has lost just once with a two-set lead (12-1), with that defeat coming against Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round of Roland Garros this year.

Set 3
Dimitrov had never come from two sets down to win a match in his career, so it was clear he would need to get off to a quick start. But the Bulgarian missed a forehand long to give Medvedev a 3-1 advantage, and the fifth seed never looked back.

Medvedev did not face a break point in the final set, and his celebration was muted after holding to 15 to clinch his victory.

Editor’s Note: This story was originally published on 2 September. The Bulgarian is into the US Open semi-finals.

Everybody goes through tough times. But it’s not those difficulties that define you; it’s how you respond to them. And Buglarian Grigor Dimitrov has faced his adversity and surged out the other side at this US Open.

The World No. 78 entered the season’s final Grand Slam having lost seven of eight matches. But after dismissing in-form #NextGenATP Aussie Alex de Minaur 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 Sunday, the former World No. 3 is into his first quarter-final in his ninth trip to Flushing Meadows.

“[It’s] absolutely amazing. I don’t take anything for granted, especially this tournament, this time,” Dimitrov said. “I’ve worked for it the past weeks. I’ve put a lot of hours on the court and off the court. You just never know. I mean, tennis is like this. You just never know when a little bit of luck smiles at you. You also have to seize your opportunity.”

Ironically, Dimitrov’s lowest point of the American summer came at De Minaur’s highest. Dimitrov lost to World No. 405 Kevin King in straight sets in the first round of the BB&T Atlanta Open, an ATP 250 event that De Minaur eventually won. But the Bulgarian went unbroken against the Aussie in New York.

“Grigor played great. He’s a quality player and he brought the old Grigor back today and he deserved the win,” De Minaur said. “He was too good today.”

Dimitrov doesn’t see this run in New York as a return to the “Old Grigor”, though. He doesn’t believe this is a new him, either. Dimitrov is focussing on the task at hand, and not worrying about anything else, and that’s how he’s advanced this far.

“[The] only way is forward,” Dimitrov said. “Overall I feel like a different person, a different player. I mean, there’s no point to sit here and talk about the past six, seven months, to welcome everybody to my pity party. It is what it is.”

Although Dimitrov has not had his best season, the Bulgarian has reached incredible heights on the ATP Tour in the past. In 2017, he captured his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title at the Western & Southern Open, and then went on to triumph at the Nitto ATP Finals. At his best, Dimitrov was capable of beating any player on any day.

But Dimitrov’s standing of No. 78 is his lowest since May 2012, just after his 21st birthday. It’s only been two years since Dimitrov’s triumph at The O2 in London. “I faced the adversity, faced everything I had to. Back on the court is always a great feeling. I’m back. I’m enjoying it, as well. I’m feeling free,” Dimitrov said. “Of course when you get out on the court, you can’t hide.”

Heading into the US Open, Dimitrov had an opportunity, though, and he has taken full advantage by reaching the last eight. Entering this tournament, he only had 145 ATP Ranking points to defend for the rest of the season. A trip to the quarter-finals earns him 360 points for this event alone, which will vault him safely back into the Top 50.

To other players on the ATP Tour, it was just a matter of time until Dimitrov found this breakthrough. The eight-time ATP Tour champion has practised well, but simply been unable to bring that to his matches.

“It’s pretty amazing that a player of Grigor’s calibre went through the slump he did. It’s amazing because you still watch him hit the ball and he’s hitting the ball great. But just confidence-wise, he wasn’t winning matches and a couple tough draws, a couple bad matches and he got into this slump of just not winning matches,” De Minaur said. “I think he’s got his rhythm back. He’s always been a hell of a player and when he gets rolling, he’s very dangerous.”

Dimitrov will hope that is true when he takes on five-time US Open champion Roger Federer next. The 38-year-old Swiss has won all seven of their FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings, five of which have come in straight sets.

“I’m happy that things are going better for him after he won Cincinnati a couple years ago now… also the World Tour Finals. He had a bit of a slump. This is the big quarters for him, obviously with an opportunity against me. I’m aware of the fact it’s a big match for him,” Federer said. “I’ve done well against him in the past. But new match, new Grigor, new me again.” 

Dimitrov began this tournament on Court 11, grinding away against Andreas Seppi in a search for solid tennis and most importantly, some confidence. But three wins and a walkover later, he has gotten better step by step.

“Whatever it is, I kept on going forward, just tried to look in that particular moment what I can do well, what I can do better,” Dimitrov said. “You put that little brick every single day. You control the things that you can control. That’s what I’ve been focussing on the most.”

In reality, Dimitrov doesn’t have much to lose against Federer. But dreaming too big about what a win would mean isn’t what helped Dimitrov climb out of his slump. And he won’t let that change.

“Excitement? Yes. So is every other feeling you could possibly think. But it’s one of the most important things, not to look too far ahead,” Dimitrov said. “Enjoy the moment for a second, appreciate the situation, and we move on. Hopefully in a couple of days I’ll be sitting here again.”

For the second straight Grand Slam, Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah have created Colombian history.

After becoming the first players from their nation to lift a men’s doubles Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in July, the top seeds became the first South American pairing in the Open Era to win the US Open on Friday with a 6-4, 7-5 victory against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.

”This whole Colombian tennis power thing started with a dream of one guy who owned this huge business called Colsanitas… One special guy who started it all was Roberto Cocheteux who passed away 17 or 18 days ago,” said Farah during the trophy ceremony. “We couldn’t go to his burial because we had to stay here and it was very tough for us. We said we would dedicate this tournament to him and there is no better way to dedicate something than to win it.”

Cabal and Farah fired 32 winners in the one-hour, 31-minute encounter to capture their 16th tour-level team title and improve to 45-13 this year. After falling short of the trophy in their opening 30 Grand Slam appearances as a pairing, Cabal and Farah are now the second team in as many years to complete the Wimbledon-US Open double.

“It was a really difficult time two weeks ago. We made a decision, we fought for it and we played for him and here we honour him, for Colsanitas, for Colombia and for everybody,” said Cabal during the trophy ceremony. “We are happy we could do this for him and hopefully he is in the sky watching us and resting in peace.”

The Colombians follow in the footsteps of Mike Bryan and Jack Sock, who swept the last two major titles of the 2018 season. Prior to last year, the most recent team to win Wimbledon and US Open in the same year was Jonas Bjorkman and Todd Woodbridge in 2003.

Winners Of The Wimbledon-US Open Double (Open Era)

Cabal and Farah’s title in New York solidifies their position as the top team in the ATP Doubles Race To London. The top seeds, who improve to 5-2 in tour-level championship matches this year, add 2,000 ATP Doubles Rankings points to their total (7,940) to take a 4,495-point lead over second-placed Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo (3,445). Cabal and Farah will also split $740,000 for their run to the trophy.

“It was my biggest dream to win the US Open here on this huge stadium so it cannot get more real than this. It cannot get more amazing than this,” said Farah.

The two-time Grand Slam champions dropped just one set en route to the title in New York, coming from a set down in the second round to defeat British duo Daniel Evans and Cameron Norrie. Cabal and Farah beat three seeded pairings during their fortnight at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Alongside Granollers and Zeballos, the Colombians also overcame 13th seeds Robin Haase and Wesley Koolhof in the third round and 15th seeds Jamie Murray and Neal Skupski in the semi-finals.

Under the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, both teams held their opening four service games with relative ease. But, from that point, Cabal and Farah made their move to take a one-set lead. The Colombians returned with aggression and moved up the court to take time away from their opponents and convert their third break point of the match. Serving for the set, Farah escaped from deuce with two unreturnable serves to delight the lively Colombian fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium, wearing the colours of their national flag while cheering in support.

Cabal and Farah threatened to break early in the second set as Granollers and Zeballos closed the net, but despite firing numerous passing shot winners, the top seeds failed to convert any of their opening six break points. After Farah conceded his serve with multiple errors at 3-4, the Colombian pairing fought back to claim the title with four consecutive games.

The top seeds capitalised on a number of errors to immediately break serve in the following game and Farah earned a second break with rapid reactions at net to serve for the title. On championship point, Farah served out wide before Cabal fired an overhead winner to confirm victory. After the match, Cabal took his son from the stands to celebrate the win and eventually lift the trophy.

Granollers and Zeballos were bidding to extend their 10-0 unbeaten record as a team by lifting their maiden Grand Slam title together. In their only previous appearance as a team, the Spanish-Argentine tandem won the Coupe Rogers in Montreal.

“Horacio and Marcel are very good friends of ours,” said Farah. “To go and win Montreal and then come here and make the final shows that they are playing at a great level.”

Granollers and Zeballos rise to No. 10 in the ATP Doubles Race to London after adding 1,200 ATP Doubles Ranking points to their collection in New York. With 2,200 points, the US Open finalists are just 370 points behind Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, who occupy the eighth and final Nitto ATP Finals qualification spot. Granollers and Zeballos also share $370,000 for reaching the championship match.

“We really enjoyed [this run]. We are playing really good and we had a really good two weeks here. It was amazing to spend all this time with Marcel,” said Zeballos.

Did You Know
This is the seventh consecutive Grand Slam event where the men’s doubles title has been won by a pair of players from the same nation.