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.
U.S. Open Men’s Final 2011: Novak Djokovic Downs Rafael Nadal For Third Grand Slam Of Year
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.
Djokovic adds the 2011 U.S. Open title to wins at the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year. CBS commentator John McEnroe called Djokovic’s 2011 — in which he has lost just twice — “the greatest year we’ve ever seen in the sport of tennis.”
For all of our U.S. Open coverage, head over to SB Nation Tennis. For updates on the men’s final, check out our StoryStream.
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