Novak Djokovic Defeats Rafael Nadal For U.S. Open 2011 Men’s Title

The world No. 1 ranking doesn’t say enough. Neither do the 10 tournament titles. The story of Novak Djkovic’s current success lies in two numbers: 64 and 2.

64 matches. One loss in four sets. And one loss where, down 0-3 in the second set to Andy Murray, Djokovic retired due to fatigue and a shoulder injury.

Novak Djokovic walked into Arthur Ashe Stadium on Monday for his 2011 US Open Men’s Final matchup with Rafael Nadal, and immediately won the hearts of the crowd. You see, Djokovic donned a New York Fire Department hat and wore it with pride as he prepared for the match. It may have been a simple and symbolic gesture, but it was cool to see.

But Djokovic wasn’t done yet, and the hat was more than a one-off deal meant for just before the match.

Rafael Nadal seemed to have momentum on his side: he had won a hard-fought third set and seen his opponent take a medical break for treatment. And then Novak Djokovic obliterated the Spaniard to win the fourth set of the 2011 U.S. Open men’s final and claim his first U.S. Open title.

Djokovic and Nadal had played a thriller through three sets, with both men playing stunning defense throughout and Djokovic coming back from 0-2 holes to Nadal in each of the first two sets, but Nadal seemed to tire in the fourth frame. Time and again, Djokovic’s array of stinging shots left Nadal without adequate reply, and he finished the fourth set in short order. Djokovic ultimately won by the score of 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

Rafael Nadal seemed to be fading fast, but just as it seemed OK to count him out, the Spaniard came roaring back to send his 2011 U.S. Open final against Novak Djokovic to a fourth set. Nadal broke Djokovic to get the third set to a tiebreaker and then won 7-3.

At the end of the set, Djokovic needed to get treatment on his back, while Nadal seemed raring to go.

Novak Djokovic may have finally gotten into the head of Rafael Nadal as the world’s top two players face off in the finals of the 2011 U.S. Open on Monday. As he did in the first set, Nadal jumped out to a 2-0 lead and seemed poised to tie up the match at a set apiece. Once again, Djokovic survived an early scare and held on for a 6-4 second-set victory to move within a set of the title.

Early in the second set, Nadal was up 40-love with a chance to take a commanding 3-0 lead. He couldn’t hold serve, though, and Djokovic ultimately won four straight games.

Rafael Nadal seemed to have Novak Djokovic right where he wanted him in the first set of the 2011 U.S. Open men’s final on Monday. The Spaniard was already up a break and now had two more chances to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Instead, Djokovic held serve and turned the set around.

By the time the set was over, Djokovic had grabbed control, winning the set’s final six games to steal momentum away. In the set, Djokovic used just about every shot in his arsenal to keep Nadal off balance. He struck two aces, had 12 winners, including two beautifully executed drop shots, and watched Nadal struggle mightily on his serve.