"Emotions are impossible to control, I tried to resist but it was difficult" - When Rafael Nadal broke down in tears after US Open tribute to career
Rafael Nadal broke down in tears after winning his fourth US Open title in 2019, defeating Daniil Medvedev in the final. The victory marked his 19th Grand Slam overall.
Nadal had a fairytale run at Flushing Meadows that year. He kicked off his campaign with a straight-sets win over John Millman before advancing past Thanasi Kokkinakis (W/O), Chung Hyeon, Marin Cilic, Diego Schwartzman, and Matteo Berrettini to set up a clash with Medvedev.
No. 2 seed Nadal defeated No. 5 seed Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 in a historic match lasting four hours and 50 minutes to take home the prestigious trophy. After his win, the 22-time Major champion collapsed on the court in celebration, covering his face.
Nadal was brought to tears when the organizers played a montage of his illustrious career before the trophy presentation. The video, showcasing each of his Grand Slam victories, received a rapturous response from the crowd.
In an interview with CNN later, Rafael Nadal explained the reasons behind his tears, saying that the emotions were "impossible" for him to control and that the support from the people made the day "unforgettable."
"The emotions sometimes are impossible to control and I tried to resist but it was difficult. All those people supporting…these things make this day unforgettable for me," he said.
Rafael Nadal: "It means a lot to me to have this trophy in my hands"
Rafael Nadal described his 2019 US Open final against Daniil Medvedev as "dramatic" and conveyed how meaningful it was for him to lift the trophy. He also commended the Russian for displaying an "amazing" level of tennis throughout the match.
"It was a dramatic match," the Spaniard told CNN. "The match had everything. [Daniil] Medvedev is one of the toughest competitors and one of the best players in the world. It means a lot to me to have this trophy in my hands. I resisted well during the last three hours of the match. He played amazing,"
Nadal then spoke about chasing Roger Federer's record of 20 Grand Slam titles (which he eventually surpassed, reaching 22), noting that he wasn’t focused on it and was instead content with how his career had unfolded.
"I cannot be all the time thinking about more and more," he said. "I just try to do it my way. I’m more than happy about the career I have. I can’t be frustrated if the guys are doing a little bit better than me. Let’s see what goes on in the next couple of years."