Rafael Nadal vs Kevin Anderson, expect the expected?
Rafael Nadal stormed into the US Open final, downing Argentina's del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, to set up his 23rd major final against Kevin Anderson. 32nd ranked Anderson was the last man standing from a wide open bottom half of the draw. Will it be a familiar narrative where Rafa adds yet another slam to his collection or can Anderson do the impossible?
Kevin Anderson has faced Nadal four times in the past. He is 0-4 against the Spaniard, having lost all the matches at Round of 16 level. They first met at the 2010 ATP Masters 1000, Canada, followed by 2015 Australian Open, 2015 ATP Masters 1000, Paris, and most recently at the clay court event, 2017 Barcelona Open.
Having made his first Grand Slam final, Anderson is now the lowest-ranked men's finalist at the US Open since the computer rankings began in 1973. He has won three ATP Singles tittles, and is the first South African player in the US Open final since Cliff Drysdale in 1965. With strong serves and a powerful forehand, the 31-year-old has an aggressive style of play.
With 15 Grand Slam titles to his name, of which two are at US Open, Nadal needs no introduction. Set to play his third major final of this year, the Spaniard is soaring high and is the overwhelming favorite to clinch the title. Odds are heavily stacked against Anderson who needs to do his best and some more to upset the World number 1.
While Nadal beat Dusan Lajovic, Taro Daniel, Leonardo Mayer, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Andrey Rublev, and Juan Martin del Potro, to reach the final, Anderson had relatively comfortable draw where he defeated qualifier JC Aragone, Ernests Gulbis, Borna Coric, Paolo Lorenzi, Sam Querrey, and Pablo Carreno Busta.
