The Return of Rafa

Rafael Nadal is back in the Big Apple.  Nearly two years along from having his hand raised after a brutal slug-fest with Novak Djokovic for the 2013 U.S. Open crown, Rafa finally re-entered the Ashe Stadium ring and set about wearing down yet another Balkan warrior, Borna Coric, to the tune of 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.  Hard to argue that Nadal looked extremely sharp in his return to tennis' biggest stage, and there's also little question that he needed every bit of that edge because Borna Coric is on the verge of becoming a bonafide force in the men's game.

Nadal was able to dictate from just inside the baseline for a good portion of the evening, and that had a lot to do with the premium placed on some truly vintage, Rafa-esque footwork...he was running around the backhand to hammer the money-shot at every turn, and Coric - game as he was - was far too often forced into retriever mode 5-6 feet behind the baseline.  Needless to say, the Spaniard has reaped just a few rewards over the years by employing this formula, but it takes commitment, belief, and some serious conditioning, and Rafa has not been able to check off all those boxes throughout much of 2015.  The two-time U.S. Open champ continues to preach process over results, and Nadal is going to be a tough out in NYC if he honestly believes he's playing with house money.

For Coric...tough draw, heck of an effort.  There's much more to come from the 18-year-old Croatian, who - despite a world ranking of #33 - still has the legs of colt.  Thoroughbred colt, that is.  This kid can run, he's mentally tough, mature for his age, and does not shy from his elders - he's already notched tour wins over Nadal and Murray - or a good fight.  Monday night was a valuable learning experience for Coric, as he and Rafa were forced to recharge the event's opening evening session after a Serena-induced tap out.  Borna withstood a fierce beating in the match's early stages, but he soldiered on to take a set, make Rafa earn his paycheck, and win over some of the toughest fans in the world of sports.  The crowd definitely fed off the effort put forth by both players, and you can't help but believe Coric will be headlining more than a few night sessions in the coming years.