Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Nadal, the tournament's No. 2 seed, edged the fifth-seeded Medvedev 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows. The win moved Nadal to within one of Swiss star Roger Federer for the most Grand Slam victories by a male player in tennis history.
Nadal also became the first male player in the Open era to win five Grand Slam trophies after turning 30.
"This has been one of the most emotional nights in my tennis career," Nadal said during his on-court interview. "It's been a pleasure to play in front of you in this amazing stadium, so many, many thanks for everything."
Nadal jumped out to a quick lead after winning the opening two sets. Medvedev, looking for his first win in a major tournament, began his comeback and fought back to force a decisive fifth set.
Nadal broke to lead 3-2 in the fifth set and again for a 5-2 advantage, but the Spaniard failed to serve out the win, double-faulting on break point and failing to convert two match points at 5-3.
Nadal saved a break point at 5-4, and converted his third championship point to claim his fourth trophy at the U.S. Open.
With Nadal's win over Medvedev, Federer, Nadal and Novak Djokovic have combined to win the last 12 Grand Slam tournaments. Medvedev was attempting to become the first male since 1949 to win the U.S. Open after trailing by two sets to none.
Moments from the U.S. Open in tennis
Nadal hugs the championship trophy after defeating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in five sets to win the Men's Final on Sunday 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-4. It's his fourth U.S. Open championship. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nadal returns a shot by Medvedev in the fifth set of the championship match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Nadal reacts after the championship win. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Medvedev serves to Nadal on Sunday. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Model Karlie Kloss watches the men's final match on Sunday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Fashion designer Ralph Lauren watches the men's final. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu drops to the court after beating Serena Williams 6-3, 7-5 to win the women's championship on Saturday. She is the first Canadian to win a grand slam. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
"I just feel really honored to be out here," said Williams, who had been cheered on by Meagan Markle, the duchess of Sussex. "I'm just so proud I'm still out here and competing at this level." Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu, 19, is the first teenager to win a Grand Slam since Maria Sharapova captured the 2006 U.S. Open. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
"It's so hard to explain in words, but I'm just beyond grateful and truly blessed. I've worked really hard for this moment," Andreescu said in her post-match interview. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu said this year has been "a dream come true." Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Bianca Andreescu holds up the trophy after winning the U.S. Open women's championship Saturday in New York City. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Nadal celebrates after match point defeating Matteo Berrettini of Italy in straight sets 7-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the semifinals on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Matteo Berrettini exits the court after losing to Nadal in straight sets in Friday's semi-finals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nadal celebrates after winning the first set tie breaker in his semifinals match against Berrettini. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Berrettini hits a forehand to Nadal in the semifinals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Medvedev serves before defeating Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria in straight sets 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-3 in Friday's semifinals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dimitrov hits a backhand to Medvedev in the semifinals. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Belinda Bencic of Switzerland congratulates Andreescu at the net after she lost in their semifinal round match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu reacts after defeating Bencic in straight sets in the semifinals to advance to the women's final on Thursday. Andreescu won 7-6, 7-5. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Bencic celebrates after winning a point over Andreescu in the semifinals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline from the top of Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams celebrates after she beat Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in straight sets in their semi-final round match on Thursday. Williams won 6-3, 6-1. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Svitolina returns a shot from Williams. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Nadal celebrates his victory over Diego Schwartzman of Argentina in their quarter-final round match on Wednesday. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Schwartzman returns a shot from Nadal in their quarter-final round match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu (L) hugs Elise Mertens of Belgium at the net after she won in three sets in their quarter-final round match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu reacts as she wins the third set to beat Mertens in three sets in their quarter-final round match on Wednesday. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Mertens returns a shot from Andreescu. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Berrettini (R) is congratulated by Gael Monfils of France after he won in a five-set tie-break in their quarter-final round match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Berrettini reacts as he beats Monfils. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Monfils returns as a shot from Berrettini in their quarter-final round match. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Neil Patrick Harris (L) watches tennis with his husband David Burtka in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Vanessa Williams of "Ugly Betty" watches tennis in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Priyanka Chopra of "Quantico" watches tennis in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Dimitrov celebrates after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in five sets in the quarter-finals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Federer hits a backhand in his quarterfinal match against Dimitrov. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Qiang Wang of China scratches her head losing in straight sets to Williams in the quarter-finals. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams pumps her fist after defeating Wang in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu (R) hugs American Taylor Townsend at the net after she won their match in the fourth round on Monday. Andreescu won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Townsend returns a shot from Andreescu. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Nadal (R) is congratulated by Croatian Marlin Cilic after his win. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Nadal reacts after he made a point against Cilic in the fourth round on Monday. Nadal won the match 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Pablo Andujar of Spain returns a shot from Monfils in the fourth round. Monfils won the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Monfils returns a shot from Andujar. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Alexander Zverev of Germany swears at the people in his box, causing the chair umpire to penalize him in his loss to Argentinian Diego Schwartzman. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Schwartzman defeats Zverev in the fourth round 3-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. Photo by Ray Stubblebine/UPI | License Photo
Petra Martic of Croatia returns the ball to Williams in the second set of their fourth-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Williams returns the ball to Martic in the second set of their fourth-round match on Sunday. Williams won 6-3, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
David Goffin of Belgium returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during the fourth round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Federer hits a forehand to Goffin in the fourth-round match. Federer won 6-2, 6-2, 6-0. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Ashleigh Barty of Australia hits a forehand to Wang in the first set of the fourth-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Wang serves to Barty in the first set of the fourth-round match. Wang won 6-2, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
American Coco Gauff, 15, hits a backhand to Naomi Osaka, 21, of Japan. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Osaka reacts after winning a point before defeating Coco. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Osaka and Coco embrace at the net after the match. Osaka invited Coco to speak in her post-game interview, a moment that went viral online. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Osaka comforts Coco as she sheds tears after the match in the third round on Saturday. Osaka defeated Coco in straight sets to advance to the fourth round. Coco became the youngest woman to win two matches at Flushing Meadows since 1996, but couldn't overcome a dominant performance by Osaka in the third round. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Nadal celebrates after defeating Chung Hyeon of South Korea in straight sets in the third round. Nadal won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Chung hits a forehand to Nadal. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Andreescu serves to Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Wozniacki serves before losing in straight sets to Andreescu 6-4, 6-4. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Madison Keys reacts after defeating Sofia Kenin 6-3, 7-5 in the third round. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The sun sets behind the Manhattan skyline from the top of Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Federer serves to Daniel Evans of Britain in the third round. Federer won the match, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams celebrates after winning a point over Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic before defeating her in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, in the third round. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams celebrates after defeating Muchova. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Kei Nishikori of Japan serves in his four-set defeat to Alex de Minaur of Australia, 6-1, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, in the third round. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Cedrik-Marcel Stebe of Germany hits a backhand to Marin Cilic of Croatia. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Cilic serves to Stebe in the second-round match on Thursday. Cilic won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Wozniacki defeats American Danielle Collins in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Collins wins the first set against Wozniacki in the second-round match 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Coco returns the ball to Timea Babos of Hungary in the second-round match on Thursday. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
American Taylor Townsend reacts after winning the second set against Simona Halep of Romania in the second-round match. Townsend won 2-6, 6-3,7-6. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Model Gigi Hadid raises her hands in the air after Williams defeated American Catherine McNally. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams beats McNally in the second round on Wednesday. Williams escaped an upset at the hands of the 17-year-old after dropping her first set in a second-round match. Williams trailed 7-5 entering the second set at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens. She finished the match 6-3, 6-1 down the stretch. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Williams (L) shakes hands with Catherine at the net. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Novak Djokovic of Serbia receives treatment on the court during a changeover in his second-round match against Juan Ignacio Londero of Argentina. Djokovic won 6-4, 7-6, 6-1. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Londero serves in his second-round match against Djokovic. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Djokovic hits a backhand in his second round match against Londero. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
American Madison Keys serves to Lin Zhu of China in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Zhu returns the serve to Keys in the second-round match. Keys won 6-4, 6-1. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Bosnian Damir Dzumhur reacts after losing a point to Federer in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
American Venus Williams hits a forehand to Elina Svitolina of the Ukraine in the second-round match. Svitolina won 6-4, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Svitolina hits a forehand to Venus Williams in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Federer returns the ball to Dzumhur in the second-round match. Federer went on to win 3-6,6-2,6-3,6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic hits a backhand to Mariam Bolkvadze of Georgia in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Bolkvadze returns the serve to Pliskova during their second-round match. Pliskova won 6-1, 6-4. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Kei Nishikori of Japan lunges for the ball hit by American Bradley Klahn in the second-round match. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
Nadal serves to John Millman of Australia in the first round. Nadal won 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Millman reacts after losing a point in the first set. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Russian Anastasia Potapova serves in her first-round match against Coco. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Coco hits a backhand in the first round against Potapova. Coco won 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Blinkova reaches to return a ball to Osaka. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Osaka hits a forehand in her first-round match against Blinkova. Osaka defeated Blinkova in 3 sets. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
Federer hits a volley to Sumit Nagal of India in their first-round match Monday. Federer won the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Nagal hits a forehand to Federer. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Lakiha Spicer (L) sits with her husband, former professional boxer Mike Tyson. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Actor Alec Baldwin of "Saturday Night Live" smiles for a selfie with his wife, Hilaria Baldwin. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Former NFL player Tiki Barber shakes hands with other spectators. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Ben Platt of "Pitch Perfect" performs during the opening ceremonies. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Former U.S. tennis player Billie Jean King gives remarks during the tournament's opening ceremonies. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Williams celebrates her win in two sets. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Sharapova hits a backhand to Williams. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
Serena Williams hits a forehand shot to Sharapova in their first-round match. Williams won 6-1, 6-1. Photo by Corey Sipkin/UPI | License Photo
