Rafa Nadal won his 19th Grand Slam title after he battled past an inspired Daniil Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 in a final for the ages to claim his fourth US Open crown at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Sunday.

Nadal’s victory moves him within one Grand Slam title of matching his great rival Roger Federer’s all-time record.

The 33-year old Spaniard had to dig very deep to beat the Russian and the lefthander became the second oldest U.S. Open champion in the professional era behind Australian Ken Rosewall, who was 35 when he lifted the title in 1970.

Nadal, seeded second, was cruising at two sets and a break up, only for Medvedev to force a decider.

But Nadal stopped his momentum to eventually clinch a thrilling victory in four hours and 51 minutes.

“It has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career,” Nadal said. “It has been an amazing final. It has been a crazy match.”

Medvedev, 23, said: “I just want to congratulate Rafa, a 19th Grand Slam title is something unbelievable, outrageous.”

The “Big Three” of Nadal, Federer and Novak Djokovic have now won the last 12 Grand Slams.