With the 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Novak Djokovic at Flushing Meadow, Rafael Nadal crafted a comeback that was as improbable as the comeback he has crafted all season, winning 60 of his 63 matches since returning from a seven-month hiatus forced by the chronic tendinitis in his knees.

Against the 26-year-old Djokovic, regarded as the sport’s speediest retriever, Nadal proved the fitter man, pummeling the Serb with heavy topspin forehands, crafty backhand slices and rock-steady serves to win the 13th Grand Slam title and his 2nd US Open win of his career.

“Probably nobody brings my game to the limit like Novak,” said Nadal, 27, who fell on his back in relief when Djokovic’s final forehand plowed into the net to end the match, then jogged to the net to embrace his longtime rival.

With the triumph, Nadal moved into third on the list of all-time major titlists, behind Roger Federer (17) and Pete Sampras (14), and cemented his status as the most relentless competitor in tennis.