Rafael Nadal, a legend of the sport and a man who has enjoyed an incredible resurgence in 2017, finds the chance to grab his second major of the season well within his grasp.  Kevin Anderson, a Cinderella story at this tournament, is a man who has not only bounced back from injury but has transformed himself emotionally this year to discover the belief to find himself just one step away from Grand Slam glory.  Only one match remains to determine if it will be Nadal who continues his dominance and that of the Big 4 at the majors, or if Anderson can complete his dream journey to become a newly-minted Grand Slam champion.

Unfortunately for the South African, all signs point to a Nadal victory, starting with the Spaniard's game.  He is superior on the return and simply more consistent from the ground.  He does an excellent job of neutralizing an opponent's power, and once he gets on top in the rallies, it is nearly impossible to wrest that control away from him.  In general, he has a more complete game, and as such, will have more options for finding an avenue to victory.

None of that is to say Anderson lacks the weapons necessary for victory.  His more powerful serve puts him in a better position to earn free points or strike the quick one-two punch to keep the rallies short, but it is imperative that he has a good serving day to enjoy the full benefits of that advantage.  His height also means that he is less likely to be thrown by Nadal's topspin and will certainly allow him to make the Spaniard pay if his topspin regularly lands short.  He also looks to move forward a little more frequently, and provided he comes in on a great approach shot, will have his looks at rushing the top seed and finishing at the net.  If he has all of these tools working for him – and provided he can red-line his game over the course of a five-set match – then he does have what it takes to garner the upset.

Execution of the game plan is only one component to determining the champion though, and Nadal holds a distinct advantage in the other, which is the mental component.  Nadal has been a familiar face at this stage of the majors for well over a decade and has fifteen slam singles titles to his name to prove it.  He has never faced a foe he did not believe he could defeat, and Anderson will be no exception.  He has defeated the South African in all four of their previous encounters, including a straight-set victory earlier this spring on the clay in Barcelona.  Suffice it to say, there is no reason why he should doubt his ability to make it five in a row come Sunday.

Of course, there is no telling how a player will react to playing his first major final, and Anderson may pleasantly surprise.  He has shown grit and true belief in the way he came through to defeat both Sam Querrey in the quarterfinals and Pablo Carreno Busta in the semifinals.  He is a much more positive presence on court in 2017, and that may give him the requisite courage and belief he needs to execute his strengths.  Furthermore, he has played Nadal closer on the hard courts, and he is going to have the freedom that comes with being the obvious underdog.  If he honestly believes he belongs on this stage, then he may prove he has what it takes to win a major.

The stage is set to mark a fantastic end to the Grand Slam season.  It could end with Anderson pulling off the upset and completing his Cinderella story by becoming a first-time major champion.  Or, it could end with the more likely scenario of Nadal continuing his resurgence in impressive fashion by claiming his second major title of the year.  Either way, it should be a satisfying ending that has folks already looking forward to what the majors may bring next season.