Rafael Nadal’s Unrivaled Hard-Court Success Makes Him Favorite to Win U.S. Open

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at Internationaled.org

Published: August 20, 2013

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It's amazing how much can change in two months time.

Less than eight weeks ago Rafael Nadal was coming off one of the worst losses of his career at Wimbledon. There were serious doubts about his knee and of course his future at the top of men's tennis. 

Even though the 12-time Grand Slam champion had just stamped his name across the clay-court season just two weeks earlier, capping off his run through Europe with an eighth French Open crown, his alarming defeat at the All England Club transformed the conversation from "Can anyone beat him?" to "Will he be back?"

But after more than a month away from tennis this summer, Nadal has returned better than ever, winning back-to-back ATP Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati to cement himself as the men's favorite heading into this summer's 2013 U.S. Open.

If you're wary of Nadal's chances in New York City, there are plenty of reasons why you shouldn't be.

 

He's Done it Before



A champion only once at Flushing Meadows in 2010, Nadal has struggled at the season's final Slam more so than at any of the other three majors, winning just over 80 percent of his career singles matches there (34-8).

But those numbers are a bit misleading considering Nadal has reached the men's final in each of his past two trips to New York, winning it all in his first run to the final three years ago. 

Prior to those successes, Rafa reached the semifinals in back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009. So it wouldn't be a shock if Nadal cruised into the final again.

Despite missing last year's U.S. Open, Nadal has won 13 of his last 14 matches at Flushing Meadows and is clearly comfortable playing there. Therefore he must be considered the favorite to lift the title for a second time this summer.

 

Dominant August



Still doubt Nadal at a major outsid...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis

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