U.S. Open: Men’s final resumes after rain delay
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The U.S. Open men’s championship match between top-seeded Rafael Nadal of Spain and third-seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia has resumed after a two-hour rain delay halted the match in the second set.
The two players, each seeking their first title in New York, were sent off the court at 6 p.m. EDT when a thunderstorm began. When lightning arrived, fans were told to leave their seats for cover.
The match is now being televised on ESPN2. If it continues past 10:15 p.m. EDT, it will be shown on ESPN Classic.
Nadal won the first set, 6-4, and was helped immensely when Djokovic was broken in the first game of the match, a nervous effort from the 23-year-old Serb who is in his second final here.
Djokovic evened the first set at 2-2 when he and Nadal began punishing each other with extreme rallies of mutually grunting power tennis. Nadal got the decisive service break in the fifth game, in a 14-point game where he needed six break points to get the advantage with a big forehand winner.
But in the second set Djokovic suddenly seized control during a stretch in the fourth and fifth games. He won 11 straight points, earned a service break and a 4-1 lead.
After Nadal was down 0-15 on his serve in the sixth game, he seemed to regain his rhythm. Djokovic knocked a passing shot into the net and Nadal dipped a nifty drop shot over the net, so perfect that Djokovic applauded. Nadal held serve at 30 and was down 2-4, then broke Djokovic in the next game, one where Djokovic seemed in control, up 40-15 on his serve. Thunder was heard during the game and on his third break-point chance, Nadal converted then quickly held serve for 4-4.
--Dan Loumena
