Rafael Nadal wins Slam No 16

New York: A relentless Rafael Nadal thumped Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win the US Open on Sunday, earning the Spaniard his second Grand Slam title of the season and the 16th of his career.

While women’s tennis produced three first-time Grand Slam winners this season, the old guard continues to reign supreme in the men’s game with Nadal and long-time rival Roger Federer sweeping the majors with two apiece.

It marked the fourth US Open final and third title for Nadal but the first time that he did not have Novak Djokovic standing on the other side of the net.

The world number one was as brilliant as he was business-like keeping the towering South African under constant pressure while not facing a single break point.

For journeyman Anderson 31, a Grand Slam breakthrough was not to be, his booming serve having no impact while Nadal delivered a near-perfect performance for a soldout crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium committing just 11 unforced errors.

Certainly the Grand Slam experience was all with Nadal but big-hitting Anderson showed no signs of jitters on the big stage of his first major final.

Nadal was quick to put his opponent’s composure and service game to the test, and Anderson needed to fight off a pair of break chances at 1-1 and again at 2-2.

That was all he needed as he held serve then broke again to clinch the set with a cheeky drop shot.Nadal continued to hammer away at Anderson, securing another break at 4-2 on the way to a two-set lead.

With the title within sight, Nadal locked in on the prize, breaking Anderson to open the final set. The 32nd ranked South African continued to battle to the finish but with Nadal playing superb all-court tennis, there was no weakness for him to exploit.

In the end, he and the crowd could only watch as Nadal punched his hands into the air in victory, one finger raised to signal his status as number one in New York and the world.

Later, the 31-year-old Spaniard described 2017 as "one of the best of his career."Nadal also claimed an unprecedented 10th French Open in June after finishing runner-up to Roger Federer at the Australian Open.

"In terms of results, this has been one of the best seasons of my career, of course," Nadal admitted of a year in which he won at least two Slams for the fourth time in his career. Had he gotten the better of Gilles Muller at Wimbledon, where he lost the final set of his fourth-round clash 13-15, the year might have been even more memorable.

"I have been winning titles, playing three finals of Grand Slams, so that's a lot. That's so difficult. The other slam that I was not in the final, I lost the match 15-13 in the fifth to be in the quarterfinals.

"So was very competitive year for me. And on clay, I won almost every match. Of course is an emotional season because I have been through tough moments in terms of injuries."

Nadal's win on Sunday was the latest chapter in an epic story of domination by the sport's superstars.From Wimbledon in 2003, an incredible 53 of 58 Slams have now been claimed by just five men -- Federer (19), Nadal (16), Novak Djokovic (12) and Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka with three apiece.

Only Andy Roddick, Gaston Gaudio, Marat Safin, Juan Martin del Potro and Marin Cilic have broken the spell. "We are in an era that is not nice to say, because I'm part of it, but we are in an era that some players make incredible things in this sport," said Nadal.

"It's difficult to win a lot of titles. We should be very happy. Probably even Roger and me and Novak, much more than we ever dreamed."

To hammer home their enduring appeal and dominance, Federer and Nadalshared the four Slams in 2017 -- Federer winning the Australian Open before capturing a record eighth Wimbledon.

Double for Hingis

Meanwhile, Swiss veteran Martina Hingis captured her second US Open doubles title after pairing Chinese Taipei's Chan Yung-Jan as the duo beat Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova.

Hingis won the mixed doubles title with Britain's Jamie Murray on the previous day, and Sunday's title is also her 13th Grand Slam women's doubles title as Hingis and Chan sent Hradecka and Siniakova crashing at 6-3, 6-2 in the final.

For Hingis, it was her 25th career Grand Slam title overall. She won the 1997 US Open and Australian Open and Wimbledon singles titles and the 1998 and 1999 Australian Open singles titles as well as seven mixed doubles titles, including this year's Wimbledon and US Open mixed titles.

"It was an amazing feeling to play here in the singles final. Coming back 20 years later, it has been a wonderful journey," said Hingis.