Nadal Leads Medvedev In US Open Final

Rafael Nadal is leading the US Open final, taking the first set 7-5 over Daniil Medvedev.

Another slice of history is in Nadal's grasp in a Grand Slam final. The 33-year-old is bidding to become the first player to win five titles after turning 30. He is also targeting a 19th overall major crown, which would move him to within one of Roger Federer's all-time haul.

The three-time US Open champion (2010, 2013, 2017) is on fire this fortnight, dropping just one set and extending his overall win streak to 10 straight with a semi-final win over Matteo Berrettini. He is 26-1 in his past five events.

Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev enters his first Grand Slam final on a career-best 12-match win streak. The 23-year-old is not only trying to become the first major singles champion born in the 1990s, but the youngest since Juan Martin del Potro in New York in 2009. He is also the first Russian to reach a Grand Slam final since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open title.

The lone previous encounter between Nadal and Medvedev went the way of the Spaniard in the Montreal final last month. It was his Russian opponent who drew first blood on a warm Sunday afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Engaging Nadal in long rallies, he outlasted the second seed from the baseline to earn the first break of the match. But, as Nadal made some adjustments as the set wore on, taking pace off his groundstrokes, he broke right back. And he would eventually grab the opener after exactly one hour as Medvedev struck his 20th unforced error of the opener.

from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2HU1AAo