September 14th, 2010
02:18 PM ET

Nadal, Wayne Rooney and WNBA finals

Rafael Nadal has his career Grand Slam.

The Spaniard claimed his first U.S. Open title, overcoming a rain delay and Novak Djokovic 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 to become the seventh player to win all four majors (Australian, French and U.S. Opens and Wimbledon) in their career. He’s also the first player since Rod Laver in 1969 to win three consecutive Slams in a calendar year.

Watching Nadal blister serves, volley as well as anyone in the field, defend peerlessly and win anything resembling a big point, you have to wonder if anyone or anything can stop Nadal right now, writes SI.com’s Jon Wertheim.

The world’s No. 1 ranked player now has nine Slams to his credit and SI.com takes a look back at Nadal’s major accomplishments.

With the U.S. Open in the books, we focus our attention on baseball’s pennant races, the WNBA finals and soccer. Here are a few of Tuesday’s highlights, all times Eastern.

Rangers at Manchester United (2:45 p.m., Fox Sports Network). Wayne Rooney is set to return to the starting lineup as the Red Devils open Champions League Group C play at Old Trafford. Rangers heads into the game an underdog despite beginning Scottish Premier League play on a four-game winning streak.

Yankees at Rays (7:10 p.m., MY9, Sun Sports). The Rays seized first place in the AL East off Reid Brignac’s 11th-inning home run and they’ll look to build on that ∏-game lead with Matt Garza on the mound. He’ll be opposed by a rookie in New York’s Ivan Nova, who will try and snap the Yanks’ four-game losing streak.

Dream at Storm (9 p.m., ESPN2). The Storm took the opening game of the WNBA finals 79-77 and they’ll be looking to inch closer to the title tonight in Seattle. But for Atlanta, which lost by 18 and 10 in their regular-season meetings, could the narrow margin of defeat mean they’re near a breakthrough?

By The Numbers

94 – Kansas City Chiefs rookie Dexter McCluster returned a punt a franchise-record 94 yards for a touchdown in the Chiefs’ 21-14 win over the Chargers. It ended K.C.’s five-game losing streak at the hands of the defending AFC West champs.

6 – The Baltimore Ravens held the New York Jets to six first downs in a 10-9 win at New Meadowlands Stadium. It was the Jets’ lowest first-down total since 1976.

$3 million – The New Jersey Devils were hit with a $3 million fine and had their third-round pick in the next draft, along with one first-round pick in the next four years for trying to circumvent the salary cap to sign Ilya Kovalchuk.

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  1. CeeFoR

    3 things no one cares about?

    September 14, 2010 at 4:31 pm | Report abuse |