Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah embrace in a hug. The Colombians have just lifted their second Grand Slam championship in three months — something almost unimaginable a few months ago.

By defeating Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 6-4, 7-5 in the men’s doubles final of the US Open on Friday, the top seeds clinched their fifth title of the season and solidified their position as the top team in the ATP Doubles Race To London in the process.

After making their rounds and handling media duties in the underbelly of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the newly crowned champions sat down to discuss their most recent victory and what’s next with ATPTour.com.

ATPTour.com: One of the most emotional moments of the final was when Jacobo [Cabal’s son] stepped on to the court just after your victory.
Farah: Maybe he should come to all our matches from now on! (Laughs)
Cabal: (Joking) That sounds like a good idea; studying, all that, might have to wait, if we want to keep winning (Laughs). He’s like our amulet now.

ATPTour.com: Like a lucky charm?
Cabal: (Laughs) No, no, I’m just kidding. But seriously, he likes to run on to the court, give us a hug and be around us, and seeing him happy makes us happy. I have no words to describe how happy I am as a father and winning this for my son. I know Robert feels the same way.

ATPTour.com: What was the first thing you guys said to one another immediately after the win?
Farah: Sebas, we just won our second Grand Slam!
Cabal: We dedicated our win to Roberto Cocheteux, founder of Colsanitas tennis club and an ambassador of the sport in our country. [Cocheteux passed away 20 August 2019].

ATPTour.com: What are the differences between winning at Flushing Meadows and capturing the title at Wimbledon?
Farah: I get the feeling that the Wimbledon win created a bit more commotion, as it was contested on a Saturday and more people probably tuned in to watch. It also lasted almost five hours. But winning [in New York] will clearly create a stir and garner a lot of attention. I mean, it’s the US Open!

ATPTour.com: And emotionally?
Cabal: They’re different. From the quarter-finals on, it was one battle after another at Wimbledon and we were averaging around four hours on the court each match. On top of that, it was our first victory as a team in a Grand Slam final. The first one is always the toughest and the one that takes its toll emotionally, but both are very special to us. We’re still processing the win here; that has yet to settle in. Both victories have their own traits and distinctions that make them special… winning in front of family, friends, our teams. Honestly, we can say we’re titleholders of two great championships, the last two majors of the year, and it’s amazing. Everything that’s happening is all very crazy.

ATPTour.com: How were you received upon your return to Colombia after winning at Wimbledon?
Cabal: Colombia expressed its love for us; they showered us with love. The people were with us all the way; they suffered through each round with us and ultimately celebrated with us. All of this makes us proud and pushes us to continue bringing joy to our supporters and providing them with reasons to celebrate.

ATPTour.com: In your victory speeches, you’re always sure to thank Colombia and the people of your nation.
Cabal: We are very proud of the love we receive. We have said it again and again. This is for them, so we want them to enjoy it as much as we do. This win is for all of Colombia.

ATPTour.com: Do you get the feeling that all these victories will somehow become the norm, or expected of you?
Cabal: I don’t know! (Laughs) All I know is we’re achieving great things and raising our profile as a team but that’s part of the job. We’re playing matches, having fun and doing what we enjoy for a living.
Farah: We value the hard work more than the victory itself. The wins are a result of the work we put into this process. If you were to live with us, you’d see everything that goes into this: our strict diet, the training, the rehydrating, the rest, the mental fortitude. We see our goal as something we can attain through this strong work ethic. And now we’re seeing the results in two consecutive Grand Slams.

ATPTour.com: You might not say it, but it would be fair for you to claim you’re the best doubles team in the world and that isn’t by chance.
Farah: Rafa [Nadal], Roger [Federer], [Novak] Djokovic… all three are examples of humility, hard work and great success, and that sets the tone for us.

ATPTour.com: Among future objectives, you admit that the Nitto ATP Finals is high priority.
Cabal: That tournament is like the cherry on top. It’s the Disney World of tennis; it’s a unique event. It would be a wonderful title to claim and we’ll be competing again this year. Believe me when I say we’ll do everything in our power to claim that title.

ATPTour.com: Finally, how will you be celebrating your big win in New York?
Farah: We’ll leave that decision up to …
Cabal: Jacobo! (Laughs)

Matteo Berrettini’s US Open has come to an end, but there are plenty of positives for the Italian to take from his breakthrough run in New York.

When he faced Roger Federer two months ago at Wimbledon, Berrettini admitted feeling ill-equipped to face a member of the Big 3. He even joked at the net with Federer about receiving a “tennis lesson” after falling to the Swiss in just 74 minutes. On Friday, he gave Rafael Nadal all he could handle for the majority of their semi-final encounter that marked Berrettini’s best Grand Slam showing.

“The last time I played one of the Big 3, it didn’t go that well. The feelings I had on court for sure was [an] unbelievable experience. I didn’t have so many chances. I think I learned a lot from the match in Wimbledon,” Berrettini said. “I was more ready [today]… I think this match will help me a lot to improve my tennis, my everything, and for sure be ready for [Nadal] the next time.

“I was coming here with not a lot of confidence. I was injured. I didn’t play a good match in Cincinnati. Didn’t expect to do such a great tournament.”

The 23-year-old created yet another milestone moment in what has been a banner year. Berrettini’s quarter-final victory over Gael Monfils, which ended in a fifth-set tiebreak, kept him undefeated in five-setters (3-0) and is considered by many fans to be the match of the tournament so far.

The Italian’s run wasn’t completely out of left field, though. Berrettini quietly built up to it with titles this year in Budapest (d. Krajinovic) and Stuttgart (d. Auger-Aliassime), in addition to a runner-up showing in Munich (l. to Garin) and reaching the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time at Wimbledon. He also scored his first Top 10 wins over Karen Khachanov (twice) and Alexander Zverev.

Berrettini was outside the Top 50 of the ATP Rankings at the start of the year, but is projected to jump inside the Top 15 for the first time when the newest standings are released on Monday. He’s also put himself in contention for a debut appearance at the Nitto ATP Finals, held at The O2 in London from 10-17 November. Berrettini will jump to ninth place in the ATP Race to London (2,160 points), trailing eighth-placed Kei Nishikori by a mere 20 points.

Read More: Berrettini, Zverev & Co. Locked In Fierce Fight For London Berths

But while he admitted appearing at The O2 was “crazy to think about,” he’s staying in the moment. Berrettini will compete next at the St. Petersburg Open before heading to Asia for the China Open and Rolex Shanghai Masters. Having a Grand Slam semi-final under his belt has given him the belief that he can defeat anyone at his remaining ATP Tour events this season.

“I’m learning to be ready. Every match is important. Every point is important. Then all the matches, you have to be focussed and ready to get the chances that you’re making,” Berrettini said. “I think when I have the right attitude on the court, I can play with any guys. If I’m focussing, if I’m playing my tennis, I can be really dangerous. It’s really important to have this confidence.”

Three-time champion Rafael Nadal on Friday evening set a blockbuster US Open final against No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev in what will be a matchup of two of the hottest hard-court players in the world. Nadal battled past first-time major semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-1 under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“The first set was a little frustrating because I had a lot of break points before the tie-break and he didn’t have any. In the tie-break I was a little lucky because he had 5/2 and 4/0. But I survived at that moment and I finally got the break in the second and then the match completely changed,” Nadal said during his on-court interview. “I started to play with more calm and be more aggressive. I’m super happy to be back in the final of the US Open.”

Medvedev (50) and Nadal (46) lead the ATP Tour in wins this season, and the pair split the two North American summer hard-court ATP Masters 1000 titles. Nadal, who is into his 27th major final, defeated Medvedev to triumph at the Coupe Rogers in Montreal, and then the Russian bounced back to lift his first trophy at that level at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.

Looking ahead to meeting Medvedev, Nadal said, “He’s making steps forward every single week. He’s having an amazing summer, winning Cincinnati and making the final in Montreal and Washington and now the final here. He’s been playing the best tennis on tour this summer so he will be the toughest opponent in the final. I need to be playing at my best. But in a Grand Slam final you can’t expect an easy opponent.

“For me it means a lot to be back where I am today after some tough moments at the beginning of the season.”

To set his second FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting against the World No. 5, Nadal withstood a game effort from Berrettini, the No. 24 seed, who had never previously reached the quarter-finals of a major. The Italian earned two set points in the opening-set tie-break, but Nadal played lockdown defence to stave off those chances, and he never looked back from there.

Nadal has been in devastating form since arriving in New York, losing just one set in his six victories, and that came in the fourth round against Marin Cilic, who earned the crown here five years ago. The 33-year-old is into his fifth final in Flushing Meadows.

“Before playing the final is not the moment to be super happy. Of course, finally when the tournament finishes, if you lose, when you’re looking global perspective, okay. But now is a moment to enjoy today,” Nadal said. “But [there] is a match in front on Sunday, an important one. I just focus on trying to be 100 per cent ready for it. But, of course, very, very happy for everything. Another final of the Grand Slam, and another final here in Flushing Meadows means a lot to me.”

This was the fifth time in his career Nadal was the lone member of the Big 3 to reach a Grand Slam semi-final. On the other four occasions, Nadal went on to win the title (2010, 2017-18 Roland Garros, 2017 US Open).

The 18-time major winner won his first FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting with Berrettini after two hours and 35 minutes. Nadal played a clean match, striking 31 winners to only 18 unforced errors, and winning the point on 17 of his 21 trips to the net.

After a double fault from the World No. 2 to start the first-set tie-break, Berrettini threw everything he had at the Spaniard, using his arsenal of weapons from the baseline to take a commanding 4/0 lead. But as always, Nadal battled hard and would not let slip the set without a fight.

Berrettini earned two set points at 6/4. On his first opportunity, the Italian clipped the tape on a forehand approach shot, and he hit an ensuing backhand volley into the net. On the next point, Berrettini carved a backhand drop shot into the net. And from there, Nadal raised his defensive walls high, putting ball after ball back into the court until the three-time ATP Tour titlist made two more unforced errors to give the second seed the opener after a physical 73 minutes.

“My goal was to win the point of the 4/0 to 4/1 with my serve. Of course with 5/0, another mini break against.. it’s done. My goal in that moment is to put the first point on my score and then win one of the next two points on the return at least. Then you are 5/2. You are in a tough situation, but if you are able to win the next two points with your serve, then you are 5/4,” Nadal said. “The opponent still has two serves to win the set. But from 4/0 to 5/4 is a completely different perspective because then the opponent has the pressure, too. That was my goal.

“Then [it] was 6/4, and I was lucky with that point. He played a very aggressive couple of points, and I was able to hold it well, not miss at least, and put one more ball in in that moment. Lucky to win that first set in the tie-break.”

Berrettini could only sit on his chair and smile between sets, knowing the chance he had to take the lead against the legendary lefty. Although he did not suffer much of a letdown, Nadal earned the first break of the match at 3-3 in the second set, when the Italian missed into the net. 

Nadal did not struggle much to take a commanding lead from there, holding to love to earn a two-set advantage. The 83-time tour-level titlist did not face a break point in the match.

Berrettini battled hard, saving nine of the 10 break points he has faced. But Nadal has put up a nearly impenetrable defence. The Italian crushed 30 winners in the first two sets, including 16 off his powerful forehand wing, but Nadal made just 15 unforced errors during that time, making Berrettini earn every point he won.

Nadal needed more than two hours to get through the first two sets, but it only took him 31 minutes to finish off the Italian. The Spaniard broke twice in the final set, and began to play more aggressively himself. At 4-1, 30/0, Berrettini played a smart lob over his head. But Nadal chased it down and whipped an inside-out forehand for a clean winner as he spun around. It was that kind of night for Nadal, who has made the championship match in five of his 11 tournaments this year.

“Winning the first set would have meant I think a lot. Especially with him, it’s tough to go a set down after an hour, more than an hour,” Berrettini said. “But I was feeling I was playing really good, even though he had a lot of chances on my serve. I think I played also good [on the] important points. I mean, I was brave, like I asked to myself. I couldn’t say anything bad. I cannot complain about what I did. I was playing with Rafa, centre court, in semis. I think it’s okay.”

Did You Know?
Nadal continues to extend his lead in the ATP Race To London over Novak Djokovic. Nadal now has 8,425 points, putting him 1,160 points ahead of second-placed Djokovic (7,265), who retired in his fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka due to injury.

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.

More About Rafa
* Nadal Moves To Within One ‘Big Title’ Of Djokovic & Federer
* Rapid Rafa: Serve, Play & Win Faster
* Nadal Dismisses Medvedev, Adds To All-Time Masters 1000 Titles Record

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.