Rafael Nadal beats Kevin Anderson in US Open to win his 16th Grand Slam title

Rafael Nadal earned his third U.S. Open championship and the 16th Grand Slam title of his career with 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Kevin Anderson, who was participating in a major final for the first time.

Rafael Nadal waves as he walks onto the court to play against Kevin Anderson of South Africa in the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. (Photo | AP) 

Rafael Nadal entered the 2017 Grand Slam season on a 2½-year drought without so much as one appearance in a major final, let alone a title. (Photo | AP)

Nadal's career haul also includes two trophies from Wimbledon and one from the Australian Open. (Photo | AP)

Nadal has dealt with knee and wrist problems, both likely a result of his physical brand of play, over his career, but 2015 and 2016 were his first seasons without reaching at least one Grand Slam final since 2004, when he was still a teenager. (Photo | AP)

Kevin Anderson managed just 10 aces, about half what he averaged in his previous six matches, and was in trouble in many service games starting early in the match. (Photo | AP)

Kevin Anderson, right, returns a shot from Rafael Nadal during the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. (Photo | AP)

Anderson and Nadal played as 12-year-olds, but their careers went in different directions. Anderson went to college, winning an NCAA doubles title at Illinois, so it's taken him a while to catch up. (Photo | AP)

Nadal is the first man since 2000 to win a Grand Slam title without facing an opponent ranked in the top 20. (Photo | AP)

Rafael Nadal signs autographs for fans after beating Kevin Anderson in the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. (Photo | AP)

Rafael Nadal holds up the championship trophy after beating Kevin Anderson in the men's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. (Photo | AP)

Rafael Nadal also was 16 for 16 on trips to the net, while Anderson only won the point on 16 of his 34 trips forward. (Photo | AP)