Rafael Nadal produced an inspired display to overcome Daniil Medvedev in a thrilling five-set final to claim his fourth US Open crown on Sunday.
And after triumphing 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4, he moved to within one Grand Slam title of matching his great rival Roger Federer's all-time record.
Already the King of Clay, the Spaniard has been a master of the Flushing Meadows hardcourts this New York fortnight but he had to dig mighty deep to beat the Russian and bring his Grand Slam career tally to 19, just one behind Swiss Federer.
The 33-year-old left-hander became the second oldest US Open champion in the professional era behind Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 35 when he lifted the title in 1970.
While the women have served up four different Grand Slam winners this season, the old guard of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic continue to rule the men's game with the "Big Three" having combined to win the last 12 majors.
After securing a memorable and hard-fought win, an exhausted Nadal said: "This has been an amazing final
“It has been one of the most emotional nights of my tennis career. Thank you very, very much, everybody in this stadium. It’s been amazing energy during both weeks.
"I think there isn’t another stadium in the world that is more energetic than this one so many thanks for everything.”
Hot-headed Medvedev was playing in his first Grand Slam final, having revelled in his new role as public enemy No.1 of the New York crowd.
The 23-year-old had been jeered by those in the stands throughout the fortnight after he flipped them the middle finger during the third round.
Yet when he launched an unlikely counter-attack in the third set it was like Rocky in reverse, the fans around a packed Arthur Ashe suddenly chanting his name.
However, Nadal dug as deep as he has probably ever had to to secure a dramatic victory in four hours and 50 minutes to move to within one major title of Federer's record tally of 20.
Nadal, whose hackles were raised when he was given a time violation at break point down in the very first game, took the opening set with a break at 6-5 thanks to a whipped forehand winner and a lob which Medvedev dumped into the net.
The Russian saved four break points in his next two service games but the jabs kept on landing, Nadal breaking through again for 4-2 and taking a two-set lead.
Fatigue seemed to be setting in for Medvedev, who was being pushed all around the court, and when a backhand hit the net at break point in the fifth game of the third set he looked beaten.
But he kept swinging, somehow breaking back to level, and with the crowd now firmly behind their new darling, he repeated the dose at 6-5 to take it to a fourth set with Nadal now the man looking vulnerable.
Gutsy hold after gutsy hold followed until Nadal sent a forehand wide and Medvedev had a break point, which he dispatched with a stunning return to force a decider.
It was sensational stuff, but the odds were still stacked against Medvedev. He had never before won a five-set match and Nadal had lost only twice from two sets up in his career.
Nadal's delaying tactics were irking the Russian but he fashioned two break points, then a third, only for Nadal to escape again.
When Nadal eked out a break point of his own at 2-2, Medvedev aced him. But when Nadal created another, a double-handed backhand putting him back in control.
Still the drama continued.
Nadal broke again but, serving for the match, he was given a second time violation by umpire Ali Nili and docked a serve at break point down, and promptly sent his second serve wide. Umpiring controversy is not confined to Serena Williams here, it seems.
Medvedev saved two match points on serve but when Nadal had the ball in his hand again he finally got over the line, a long Medvedev return bringing to an end a truly remarkable final.
