Sixteen years ago today, on September 13, 2010, Rafael Nadal completed one of the most significant milestones of his career when he defeated Novak Djokovic in the US Open final to win his first title at Flushing Meadows and complete the Career Grand Slam.
The top-seeded Spaniard prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 in a final interrupted by rain, becoming only the seventh man at the time to win all four Grand Slam singles titles.
The victory was particularly significant because the US Open had long been the missing piece in Nadal’s Grand Slam collection. He had already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, but questions remained over whether his physically demanding, heavy-topspin game could translate consistently to the hard courts of New York.
In 2010, Nadal answered those questions emphatically.
Nadal entered the tournament having already won the French Open and Wimbledon earlier in the season. At Flushing Meadows, he reached his first US Open final without dropping a set.
A major part of his success was an improved serve. The US Open noted that Nadal had added roughly 10-12 mph to his first- and second-serve averages compared with 2009 and was regularly reaching speeds of around 135 mph. The adjustment gave him a more effective offensive weapon on hard courts.
His improved serve complemented the qualities that had already made him one of tennis’ most formidable competitors: extraordinary movement, relentless defence, heavy groundstrokes and an ability to turn long rallies into physical battles.
The championship match was originally scheduled for September 12, but heavy rain forced it to be postponed until Monday, September 13. It was the third consecutive year that the men’s US Open final had been delayed by weather.
When play finally began, Nadal made the stronger start, taking the opening set 6-4. Djokovic, however, refused to surrender.
The Serbian recovered in the second set, and with the score tied 4-4 at 30-30, rain again interrupted proceedings. The stoppage lasted about one hour and 57 minutes. When the players returned, Djokovic broke Nadal and went on to take the set 7-5, handing Nadal his first set loss of the entire tournament.
Nadal responded immediately.
He took the third set 6-4 and then dominated the fourth, breaking Djokovic twice as the match moved toward its conclusion. After three hours and 43 minutes, Nadal sealed victory when Djokovic’s final shot sailed wide.
Nadal collapsed onto the court in celebration as the significance of the achievement sank in.
The victory completed what was, at the time, an extraordinary Grand Slam season.
Nadal had won Roland Garros on clay, Wimbledon on grass and the US Open on hard court. He therefore became the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same calendar year and the first to accomplish that feat across three different surfaces.
At 24, Nadal also became the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam, a record that stood until Carlos Alcaraz surpassed it by completing his own Career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open at age 22.
The 2010 triumph was also Nadal’s first US Open title. It would not be his last. He went on to win the tournament again in 2013, 2017 and 2019, finishing his career with four US Open championships.
Despite the defeat, Djokovic recognised the magnitude of what Nadal had accomplished.
After the match, the Serbian said Nadal was the best player in the world and that he had “the capabilities to become the best player ever.”
Nadal himself described the achievement as extraordinary and said he believed he had played his best match of the tournament at the most important moment.
Sixteen years later, the significance of that night remains clear. Nadal did more than win the one major title that had eluded him. He demonstrated that his greatness extended far beyond clay and established himself as a champion capable of conquering every surface.
What had once been considered his final frontier became another defining chapter in one of tennis’ greatest careers.