Rafael Nadal: What Does the 2011 US Open Mean for His Legacy?

Although he is only 25 years old, Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal is already considered one of the top six or seven best tennis players of all time.

By 24, Rafa had already become just the fourth player to have a career Grand Slam in the Open Era.

He has won 10 Grand Slam titles (fourth in Open Era) and 46 titles overall.

His six victories at the French Open are tied for the most (Bjorn Borg) of any player in the Open.

From Monte Carlo 2005 to Hamburg 2007 (14 tournaments overall), Nadal won a surface-record 81 consecutive matches on clay.

In short, Nadal has built himself a huge legacy in a very short amount of time.

However, 2011 has not really been his year. After a wonderful 2010, in which the Spaniard won three Slams—including the US Open for the first time—and regaining the No. 1 ranking, it is fair to say that the current world No. 2 is in somewhat of a slump.

To date, he has won only three titles (including his sixth Roland Garros) and has lost the top spot to Serb Novak Djokovic, who has beaten Nadal in five finals so far.

It is clear to any tennis fan that if Nadal wants to have a good season, he will have to repeat in New York. However, what impact does this final major carry on the Spaniard's legacy?

No player has ever won every major more than once in the Open Era. Nadal still needs the US and the Australian Open to get to that feat. Although it may be tough to win with Djokovic playing unbelievable tennis a the moment, Nadal only has about two more years in his prime.

In truth, though, it is very easy to tell what a win at Flushing Meadows would mean for Rafa.

It would tie him with Bjorn Borg with 11 Slams.

It would give him back-to-back titles at a non-clay court tournament for the first time in his career.

It would prove that in a year that his play has been subpar, he can pull it all together to win a pair of Slams.

If he beats Djokovic in the final, it would prove that he can beat a player at his absolute best—and on his favorite surface.

The more interesting question is: What if Rafa doesn't go all the way and loses either early or to a player like Roger Federer or Djokovic later on in the tourney?

A return to what he was in 2006 or '07—when he would struggle in the hard court Slams, win the French and lose in Wimbledon final—would not be great news for camp Rafa. If Djokovic were to win the Open, he would validate his spot as the top player, and drop Nadal to the consensus No. 2.

An early loss in NY would raise many doubters towards. It would prove to people that he would never be that Federer-esque dominator that he was believed to be entering the year.

If Nadal makes the final, runs into the brick wall that is Djokovic and loses for a sixth consecutive time, many questions will arise. Even Federer—perhaps the most dominant player in history—couldn't master Nadal for three matches, much less six.

With so many losses to one specific player, people will question how much more Rafa has in the tank.

So, the real reason why a win will be so important for Nadal is not to improve his legacy—although it would do so—but more to not hurt his legacy with an early loss.

Rafa already has built a great legacy and he doesn't need to add much, but with another win he will truly be a man for all surfaces.

It has been rare for Nadal to win a Slam when he is not the favorite, so if he can beat out heavy-chalk Djokovic, his season will be considered a success.

If Nadal wants a good year, and truly to prove that he is not a "dirt-rat" who got lucky to take a couple hard-court majors, this US Open is the place to do so.