Rafa and the US Open: An odd couple

Can Rafael Nadal win the US Open this year?

He is capable, for sure.

And he is desperate (read determined) as well, as the year's last Grand Slam happens to be the only major title that the Spaniard is yet to win.

Nadal admitted recently that winning his first US Open is not out of question.

"It's very special. I've won the other three, so if I win that it's going to be a complete cycle," he was quoted as saying.

But it is easier said than done, for there are a lot of factors working against the Spaniard.

A year which started on a bright note, with Nadal winning the Australian Open -- another major that had eluded him -- in dramatic manner over rival Roger Federer, witnessed the Spaniard dominate the first half, winning a plethora of clay court titles -- including big ones at Monte Carlo and Rome -- till he hit a roadblock (named Robin Soderling) at the French Open.

It has been a been a downhill since.

Post that shock defeat to Soderling at Roland Garros, Nadal was forced to skip Wimbledon with injury and watch from the sidelines as his Swiss rival won both (French and Wimbledon) and reclaimed the top spot.

To make matters worse, Andy Murray usurped the No 2 spot in his absence.

Nadal returned to competition earlier this month after taking off for more than two months because of tendinitis in both knees but the return has been anything but smooth.

His comeback two weeks ago at the Rogers Cup in Montreal came to a grinding halt at  the hands of Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals.

And then he fell to Serbia's Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals at the Cincinnati Masters last weeek.

After his semi-final exit at Cincinnati, Nadal admitted he had exceeded his own expectations and that the Serb was "a step too far" at this stage of his return. 

And went a step ahead in saying that reaching the quarter-finals in Montreal and the last four in Cincinnati had been even better than he hoped for going into the US Open.

"This week is very important for me," he told reporters.

"These two weeks, winning three matches here and two matches (in Montreal) winning five matches and playing seven matches in total, it's enough matches I think.

"I am happy for everything. Happy to be here and happy to be more ready for the US Open than I expected before I came to this American tour."

Nadal was second-best throughout against an inspired Djokovic but the Spaniard said his confidence would not be affected.

"It's another step. Physically and mentally it's difficult for me to be ready," he said.

"But I think this match is going to be a good experience for me right now to try to make this step in the US Open.

"I think I wasn't 100 percent ready to play at this level. I need to play at this level more than one time to be ready to compete another time at this level."

T he tendonitis in both knees that forced Nadal to miss the defence of his Wimbledon title have eased and the Spaniard said he is playing without pain.

Competing over best-of-five sets at the US Open, though, would present him with an additional challenge.

"We will see how I am physically to play the five set matches," he said.

"I know when I am playing well I can play at this level. But you only can win against these top players when you are playing your best tennis."

However, injury and fitness issues aside, Nadal's biggest concern will be his not-so-impressive record at New York, a major that has not been kind to him thus far.

In six previous visits to the Flushing Meadows, the Spaniard has compiled a 16-6 win/loss record, his worst in major tournaments.

Last year's semi-final defeat to Andy Murray was his best effort in the tournament but, bluntly put, he was second-best to the Scot in all departments in that match.

Why he struggles in New York is a question that is yet to be answered but Nadal is definitely looking out for the same.

The Spaniard's persistence was rewarded first when after years of underperformance and repeated efforts he won the Australian Open earlier this year.

If he manages to achievve the same at New York remains to be seen.