'Poor form': Anger over 'ridiculous' moment in US Open trophy presentation
Rafael Nadal showed his class once again during award ceremony at the US Open when he applauded the chair umpire, despite the famously fickle Flushing Meadows crowd booing the official.
Nadal thwarted an extraordinary Daniil Medvedev comeback to win the US Open final - the 19th major of his career - but it didn’t come without its intense moments.
‘JUST AWFUL’: Fans rage over ‘disgusting’ moment in US Open final
Nadal had been in a running battle with the chair umpire Ali Nili after he had hadned the Spaniard multiple time violations throughout the match for running out the serve clock.
Despite Nadal accepting the violation, which means he lost his first serve, the Spaniard was clearly finding it difficult to go through his normal routine after a gruelling five-hour, five-set thriller.
Many fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium decided to boo the umpire after the call, which did not go down well on social media.
Despite his grievances, Nadal hardly complained and showed his class at the award ceremony to applaud Nili.
However, the crowd showed their hostility and not for the first time this year at Flushing Meadows they booed the umpire when his name was called out.
Fans on social media once again found the New York crowd tough.
They’re booing the umpire as he’s thanked because they need someone to boo or it’s not NYC.
— Sean Kent (@seankent) September 9, 2019
Really why are they booing the chair umpire?
— James Rogers (@ElliottJMR) September 9, 2019
The @usopen crowd is a very tough one. They booed the chair umpire during his medal presentation because of that time violation he called for Nadal (a good call, by the way). They don't forget...#USOpen
— Chisom Mbonu Ezeoke (@sommbonu) September 9, 2019
Absolute hardcore Nadal fan who still has sore throat when he loses, but the chair umpire did nothing wrong. Nothing. https://t.co/9dMz39mXEx
— Anandilal Katpitia (@cric_buff) September 9, 2019
Crowd booing the umpire but even Nadal clapped him. Measure of his greatness! #takeabowson #usopen #bbctennis
— Chandragupta (@sandrokottos) September 9, 2019
Whistling & booing the umpire for enforcing the rules? Really? I think the umpire was pretty restrained with the time violations for #Nadal @usopen
— Heather Penny 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@reelofthe51st) September 9, 2019
The booing of the umpire at the trophy ceremony is absolutely ridiculous. Completely stinks of disrespect. He applied the rules by the law. He should be receiving applause for what would be a highlight of his career.
— Ed Yew (@ed_yew) September 9, 2019
Poor form to those @usopen fans booing chair umpire receiving his medallion.
A raucous NY crowd, Rafa playing on the edge of his 30 sec allowance every service point, it’d be nice to acknowledge his contribution to one of the great finals a bit better.— Rick Fontyn (@FontSportsMedia) September 9, 2019
Nadal edges closer to Federer record
Nadal’s win takes him within one major of Federer’s all-time record of 20.
It also extends the dominance of tennis's big three of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic to 12 straight slams.
But Nadal was forced to fight tooth and nail to prevent Medvedev from striking a massive blow for the sport's next-gen stars.
Medvedev was striving to become the first man in his 20s to claim a singles slam since Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon title in 2016.
Riding a wave of confidence after four consecutive hardcourt finals over the American summer, 23-year-old Medvedev threatened to pull off a nigh-on impossible comeback win over the mighty Majorcan after taking the third and fourth sets.
Nadal had won more than 200 matches for just one defeat after establishing two-set leads during his glittering career.