US Open Mens Final

The US Open mens final 2010 finally ended major tennis for the year. Of course, the US Open mens final 2010 didn't end on time, as the schedule had a
 Monday final again. In fact, the match was subject to another rain delay at a key point, and did not end until after 10 p.m. est on ESPN 2. But by the time it did end, it was clear that Novak Djokovic did not have another comeback in him. As such, the US Open mens final 2010 made tennis history, and made Rafael Nadal the undisputed No. 1 in the land.

Flushing Meadows was the last major location to get the best of Nadal, at least until this year. He had not lost a set going into the final, and looked safe to get a career Grand Slam. Novak Djokovic seemed to make the task easier when he upset Roger Federer, but that was not the case for a while.

Before the US Open mens final 2010 had another rain delay, Nadal and Djokovic were practically even. Nadal won the first set, but Djokovic jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the second. However, Nadal evened things at 4-all and looked set to retake control -- yet the rain delay gave Djokovic time to regroup and seize the set after all.

With the US Open mens final 2010 now even at a set, it appeared that the tennis action would not end soon. However, Nadal overcame the first chink in his armor, and broke Djokovic early in the third set. From then on, he was back in command, eventually taking a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 triumph.

The Open tennis schedule had been very conventional this year, with Nadal's dominance and Kim Clijsters' latest repeat. Of course, Nadal had never dominated Flushing Meadows like this, but he had made it commonplace at Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Djokovic provided more drama than expected, yet the US Open mens final 2010 finally became a coronation.

Now that Nadal has won all four majors, and pulled away over Federer -- despite not having to beat him in this year's majors -- there doesn't seem to be much left for him. However, his three consecutive major titles have made next year's Australian Open a massive event. If he wins that, he will have the "Rafa Slam" and hold all four majors at once, which no man has done in decades.

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US Open Final Time

  
Kim Clijsters is the Queen of the U.S. Open.

Clijsters crushed seventh-seeded Vera Zvonareva, 6-2, 6-1, in last night's final at Arthur Ashe Stadium to take home her second straight Open title. The mauling took just 59 minutes, as the second-seeded Clijsters played solidly while Zvonareva was an inaccurate mess of mistakes.

The Belgian has won the title in her past three appearances. She won the Open in 2005 and then did not play from 2006-2008 as she took off 28 months to have a baby and get away from the sport. She has won her last 21 Open matches and became the first woman to win the Open in three straight appearances since Chris Evert from 1975-78.

Clijsters' victory made it 15 straight years in which the women's final in Flushing Meadows has been a straight-set affair. The last time the women played three sets for the championship was 1995, when Steffi Graf battled past Monica Seles.

The triumph ended Zvonareva's two-match winning streak against Clijsters. Zvonareva had toppled Clijsters in the Wimbledon quarters this summer, a loss that last night Clijsters ranked among her most crushing, and beaten her on a hardcourt at the recent tournament in Montreal.

"In a way, I was excited to play her in the final here just to try and get that revenge, but I also learned lot of things," Clijsters said. "My coach, by watching me lose against her, we picked up a few little things that kind of helped me out [last night] as well, which was kind of mixing up my game a little more."

Clijsters, whose three U.S. Open crowns are her only Grand Slam titles, talked last night about this year was the first time she had the opportunity to defend her title. She succeeded.

"She didn't really give me chances to get into the match," Zvonareva said. "I was ready to play. I knew what I had to do. I just couldn't produce anything."

The sixth game of the second set was evidence. Clijsters drilled a crosscourt forehand passing shot for a winner and a forehand passing shot down the line for another. Zvonareva also double-faulted twice, handing Clijsters a break.

Overall, Zvonareva committed 24 unforced errors and double-faulted four times.

With no Serena Williams in the tournament, Clijsters did not have to beat the world's top player. But did beat No. 3 Venus Williams in the semifinals, 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, and she won a quarterfinal battle with No. 5 Samantha Stosur, 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

In the first set last night, Clijsters broke Zvonareva to go up 4-2 and broke again two games later to capture the set.

The fans exhorted Zvonareva, clearly wanting to see a more competitive final. But facing a break point at 3-1 in the second, Clijsters delivered a 97-mph ace and held to go up 4-1. The championship clincher came on a forehand winner.

For Clijsters, it was part repeat and part revenge.

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