Tennis:Rafael Nadal completed the career Grand Slam by beating Novak Djokovic in the US Open final. The Spaniard won a thrilling contest 6-4 5-7 6-4 6-2 at Flushing Meadows to become only the seventh man in history to win all four major titles.
Nadal joins Fred Perry, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Rod Laver, Andre Agassi and Roger Federer on the elite list of players who have won the Australian, French and US Opens, plus Wimbledon.
He said: "(Winning the US Open) is more than I dreamt, just to arrive to the final was amazing and to have the trophy in my hands in a few seconds with my heart beating is going to be unbelievable."
Of his opponent, Nadal added: "First thing, I would like to congratulate Novak and all his team for a great tournament, you're a great player and you're going to win this trophy very soon, I'm sure of that. I want to congratulate you for a great attitude after losing a Grand Slam final, that's a great example for the kids."
In turn Djokovic said: "It's a great honour to be here. I would like first to congratulate Rafa and his team for an amazing tournament. Right now he is the best player in the world and he absolutely deserves this title, well done."
To achieve his success, Nadal was made to fight all the way by Djokovic with both men's level of play reaching outstanding heights at times.
The duo traded early breaks before Nadal struck again in the sixth game, winning it on his sixth break point. It was a big game for Djokovic to lose and he summed that up by smashing his racquet into a bent mess.
It proved enough for Nadal to take the set but Djokovic showed he was not going to lay down and die as he opened a 4-1 lead in the second set, adding venom to his groundstrokes with his forehand in particular firing well.
However, Nadal responded to the challenge, reeling off three successive games to get the set back on serve before rain arrived to force the players form the court.
After a two-hour delay Djokovic had to return to serve at 4-4 30-30 but he stood firm and when Nadal stepped up to stay in the set at 5-6 he made his move.
A series of short balls was eventually punished and then a superb deep return forced the error from the world number one on set point as Djokovic squared the match.
The Serb was flying at that stage, having cracked no less than 17 winners in the second set - the first Nadal had dropped in the tournament.
However, Nadal simply seemed able to go up a gear when he was being pushed and that is what he did in the third set.
A trademark cross-court backhand, from a seemingly impossible angle, helped Nadal break in the third game as Djokovic produced a couple of untimely errors and the pressure remained firmly on in the third seed's following service games.
However, he fended off eight more break points to keep the deficit to a single break and his doggedness was almost rewarded as he moved to 15-30 when Nadal's served for the set.
However, the Spaniard then pulled out three big serves as just the right time, leaving Djokovic gesturing, arms spread wide, to suggest 'what do I have to do here?'
More was the answer, but more was not forthcoming.
The forehand winners were drying up and although Djokovic was still able to produce the odds bit of magic, it was Nadal who was clearly in control now.
His level remained consistently high and he soon grabbed the fourth set by the scruff of the neck, winning five straight games to go 5-1 up and close in on history.
Djokovic forced Nadal to serve it out but he duly did so and clinched victory when his opponent sent a shot into the tramlines.
Nadal collapsed to the court in sheer delight, his place in history assured. With nine Grand Slam titles - five French, two Wimbledons, one Australian and one US - he will now be regarded by some as the greatest player of all time.
Federer may hold the all-time record of 16 Slams, but Nadal has a winning record against his modern-day rival and at only 24 could well go on to surpass that tally.
Djokovic praised Nadal's efforts, saying: "Right now he's the best player in the world and he absolutely deserves this title."