U.S. Open 2010: Winning This Tournament Will Forever Define Rafael Nadal

 Full Name: Rafael Nadal Parera

Country: Spain

Age: 24

Current World Ranking: 1

Major Victories:

-         ATP World Tour Masters 1000: 18

-         Olympic Gold Medal: 1

-         Davis Cup: 3

-         French Open: 5

-         Wimbledon:  2

-         Australian Open: 1

-         US Open: pending …

Nadal is back at the peak of his powers and with the absolute mission to conquer the only one Grand Slam title that is not in his impressive resume yet.

If last year the Spaniard played in the US Open in less than stellar conditioning and carrying an abdominal injury, but still managed to reach the semi-finals, where he lost to champion Juan Martin del Potro, this year Nadal seems fully prepared, fit again and eager to play the unstoppable way he has been playing all year long despite his two hardcourt losses this summer and his troubled backhand against Baghdadis in Cincinnati.

He had, however, learned from those losses and he is training hard and smart to get ready for New York. Among other aspects of his game, Nadal recognizes his serve and backhand have to improve in order to make it to the final.

He is also seeded No. 1 in Flushing Meadows so he knows that probably for the first time in his career, 2010 is his best chance to travel back to Spain with the trophy.

Of course, Federer ( No.2 seeded, No. 2 in the World after being No. 3, ouch!, those numbers must hurt!) is also in New York with the absolute mission to reclaim back the win he lost last year.

And despite all the other very good contenders (ex: Murray), everybody wants a Nadal / Federer final. A kind of final that hasn’t happened since they played at the Madrid Open in May and that hasn’t occurred in the US in many years.

Nadal at 24 years of age has already accomplished so much and is considered one of the very best ever. If he wins the US Open, it will elevate him to another dimension in tennis history and even most important for his career, it will give him an extra lift to keep conquering tittles and become a very close contender to Federer’s all time victories.

And if he wins against 5 times winner, Roger Federer, it will be just epic! Stay tune.