Rafael Nadal vs. Novak Djokovic: Set-by-Set Predictions for 2013 US Open Final

The two top-ranked players in men's tennis will square off in one of the most anticipated championship matches in recent memory on Monday at the 2013 U.S. Open.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic and archrival Rafael Nadal will meet for the sixth time in a Grand Slam final and for the 37th time overall.

Rafa leads the head-to-head with Djokovic 21-15 overall and 7-3 at Grand Slams. But all three of those losses have come in Grand Slam finals, including a four-set loss to Djokovic in the 2011 U.S. Open final.

Monday's high-stakes matchup will be the latest chapter in what has been an epic rivalry.

Here we'll break it down with set-by-set predictions. 

Set No. 1: Nadal Starts Fast, Earns Early Break

Both players will be looking to feel each other out in the opening set on Monday, so don't be surprised if each holds serve relatively easily through the first few games. 

But if either competitor is going to start fast, it'll be Nadal, who has looked strong in the early goings of his early-round victories. Meanwhile, Djokovic struggled out of the gate in the semifinals this past weekend, falling behind early against Stanislas Wawrinka.

Look for Rafa to break Djokovic midway through the opening set and serve it out to take the opening frame.

Prediction: Nadal, 6-4.

Set No. 2: Djokovic Fights Back to Level 

It's difficult to imagine either player taking a two-set-to-love lead in Monday's final. There's very little separating Djokovic and Nadal, and that's why I look for the world No. 1 to battle his way back into the match in the second set.

With Rafa having been broken just once through the first six rounds of the tournament, Djokovic's best shot of breaking through in the second set could come in a tiebreaker, where he won't need to win four points on Nadal's serve.

Prediction: Djokovic, 7-6 (7-4)

Set No. 3: Nadal Inches Closer 

Disappointed that he wasn't able to do enough in the second-set tiebreaker, Nadal will come out with a purpose in the third set, cruising on serve before earning a key break late in the set. 

Djokovic seems to play his best tennis when his back is against the wall, so dropping the third set wouldn't necessarily be a death sentence for the six-time major winner. In fact, it might just be the spark that ignites a fire under him for the remainder of the match.

Prediction: Nadal, 7-5

Set No. 4: Djokovic Returns the Favor

Trailing by a set, you'd have to expect Djokovic to bring his A-game in the fourth set. 

With very little room for error, look for the world No. 1 to turn up the pressure on Nadal's serve when things get tight late in the set. Djokovic has broken his opponents 38 times through the first six rounds and should be able to crack the code on Nadal's serve at this stage of the match.

On the other side of the net, Nadal will be playing in a fourth set for the just the second time in the tournament, which means he'll likely be a bit tenser and more hesitant. 

Prediction: Djokovic, 7-5 

Set No. 5: Djokovic Outlasts Nadal 

In a matchup of two tennis heavyweights, the fifth set is sure to be drama-packed. Every point will be pivotal in determining who adds to their legacy.

The players will also be battling their bodies at this point in the match, having likely spent three or four hours on court. And while both are extremely fit, the surface favors Djokovic. 

Keep in mind that Djokovic actually had Nadal on the ropes in their previous five-set match at the 2013 French Open, but made some costly errors in the final set to let the Spaniard back into the match. In their only other five-set match at a Grand Slam, it was Djokovic taking the decisive set 7-5 in the 2012 Australian Open final. 

This time around I look for the best returner in tennis, Djokovic, to get an early break and hold serve the rest of the way to win his second U.S. Open championship.

2013 marks Djokovic's fourth straight U.S. Open men's final appearance, and he's got to be tired of coming up short.

Prediction: Djokovic, 6-3

Final Prediction: Novak Djokovic def. Rafael Nadal; 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 5-7, 7-5, 6-3

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