Nadal has won at Flushing Meadows before, lifting the trophy in 2010 and 2013, but has often been criticised for underperforming in New York.
And he has not always been convincing in 2017, dropping sets on three occasions – against Taro Daniel, Leonardo Mayer and Juan Martin del Potro.
But he has made it through the rounds and remains the overwhelming favourite for the title against Anderson, who is two matches deeper in a Grand Slam than he has ever been before.
- Martina Hingis wins 24th Grand Slam title in mixed doubles
- Nadal and Anderson due on court at 9pm UK time
Rafael Nadal v Kevin Anderson – US Open 2017 final LIVE
8pm: So it’s not the final many, perhaps any, expected. Rafael Nadal, two-time winner here, world No 1 and top seed, was always going to be in the mix and while his presence in the final is no surprise, Kevin Anderson’s is.
The big-serving South African, born just a few weeks before Nadal, reached the quarter-finals here two years ago and is in the form of his life, having demolished Pablo Carreno Busta in the semi-finals.
It’s an intriguing match-up – the bombastic server against the ultimate grinder – and one I can’t wait for.
By schedule, they should be on in about an hour but given how slovenly the Flushing Meadows organisers have been this year, I would expect a 9.20pm kick-off. Hit-off. Serve-off. Start.