At the beginning of this year’s U.S. Open, the rest of the field was given next to no chance against the Big 3.
Two of the Big 3 exited prior to the semifinals…and the rest of the field still appears to have no chance.
Even though Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are out, Rafael Nadal continues to run roughshod through a draw that has been perfect for him from the start. It is becoming even better for Nadal by the day, despite the fact that his opponents are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at him. Diego Schwartzman was the latest to do that–as he always done–in a 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 loss to the second-ranked Spaniard during quarterfinal action on Wednesday night. Schwartzman recovered from a double-break down in each of the first two sets to get back on serve both times and he kept Nadal out there for two hours and 47 minutes despite bowing out in straight sets.
Nadal squandered a 4-0 lead in the opening set but broke the 21st-ranked Argentine at 5-4 to regain momentum. Nadal blew all of a 5-1 advantage in the second, only to once again recover when it mattered most to take the last two games. Although the three-time U.S. Open champion got precautionary treatment for forearm cramping in the third set, he rolled the rest of the way to finish off Schwartzman in convincing fashion.
“I don’t know how, but these guys are improving every time,” Schwartzman said of the Big 3.
“I’m feeling good,” Nadal assured. “Today was very humid day, very heavy day. I had some cramps in the end of the second, and, yeah, first five games, six games of the third. And then I take some salt, that’s all, and then was over. Well, the body is in good shape, I think. No, not big problems. Just of course now a little bit tired, long day, 1:30. Need to go to sleep. But I really believe that I going to be in good shape.”
Next up for Nadal is another player outside the top 20 making a surprising run in New York City. Matteo Berrettini, a fourth-round performer at Wimbledon, outlasted Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(5) in a day-session match that lasted three hours and 57 minutes.
The world No. 25 is through to a Grand Slam semifinal for the first time in his career, having never previously advanced even to the quarters.
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2 to go
Can anyone tell me about Berettini’s strengths and weaknesses? He was already performing well at Wimby. He must be doing something right!
Btw, this USO seems to indicate that the younger generation finally starts to make an impact – although they are mostly profitting from Novak’s and Roger’s injuries. They so far didn’t manage to overcome healthy top guns. But Berettini and Medvedev are 23 years, and Dimitrov is 28 years old. Unlike the other slams of the last two years, where the last four standing were often over thirty, Rafa is the only thirtysomething now.
Medvedev has impressed so much. He is a problem solver on court, very tenacious physically and mentally and I like his tennis as well.
Berrettini Strengths = Huge serve and forehand
Weakness Backhand
I recommend Gill Gross’ Youtube channel for good analysis. He’s got a “thoughts” video up for the Monfils-Berrettini match and he does a good analysis of Berrettini and how Monfils failed strategically in that match (as well as forgetting how to serve when trying to close the match). Gill also explained why it’s the serve that goes when nerves pop up. Or you maybe VR will pop by and explain. š
Thanks!āŗ
Looking forward to Berrettini v Nadal. Berrettini wont lie down that’s for sure.
Well i just don’t see weapons in Berrettini arsenal to surprise Rafa expect for his very good serve but this isn’t enough. Anything but 3-0 for Rafa(injury excluded) will be surprise. Berrettini is surely very good player no doubt about it but still quite far away from beating in form top 3 players.
The WILL to WIN……that’s what is so amazing about Rafa….he wants it more than everyone else…..The Gladiator!!!!
Yes, but Rafa also seems to enjoy the process more than anyone else. He relishes the fight.
10th semi final of the year for Rafa from of the 11 tournaments he’s played. His consistency on hard courts is damn impressive now. Gone are the times when he was susceptible to losing to a certain brand of tennis or a class of players. It takes a top notch Djoko or Fed to beat him even on hard courts these days.
I am not at all worried about the semi. He’ll win in 3 sets. He is not injured but needs to better manage the humidity situation.
The biggest threat right now is Medvedev but not sure how the Dimi Medvedev match will play out.
vr,
Thanks for your common sense analysis. I agree with you that Rafa will be ready for the semifinal. He does need to deal with the humidity and possible dehydration. His team will have to make sure he is prepared. No more cramping.
fedexal,
I wanted to give you a special shout out for your great posts last night. You really put it in perspective. Rafa did win in three sets. Somehow! It was winning ugly. But he did it. Not enjoyable to watch. But I would never, ever write off Rafa.
Rafaās will to win is truly remarkable. That is what gets him through. It may not be pretty and hell on the nerves, but he manages to get it done. Never would I say that he canāt beat Berrettini or even Medvedev.
Vamos Rafa!
VR, the Dimi Medvedev match may go five sets imo. Dimi is playing well right now and seems to start believing in himself again.
After two days rest, I think Medvedev should be physically good enough to play and go the distance. He’s just that fit and his will to win is incredible.
I agree too that Rafa will beat Berrittini, may be relatively easier than against Schwarzman.
A Rafa vs Medvedev final will be interesting, and I think this time if won’t be as lopsided as that Montreal final. Medvedev is so confident these days, and he’s moving up the rankings so quickly (will be ranked no. 4, has overtaken Thiem). It’ll be two unorthodox players pitching against each other, let’s see who can outwit the other to win.
I’m with you in that I really like Medvedev’s tennis; he’s like Rafa, could change tactics during match, plays very well from the baseline but has learnt fast to play well at the net too. He can hit flat shots and mixing in slices and spins etc, a very versatile player imo.
Hes also gutsy and willing to take risk when things are not working for him, like hitting big second serves for example. He can also throw in some off pace balls to disturb his opponent’s rhythm. To me he’s like a Djoko/Murray combined, with a solid baseline game and an intelligent tennis brain like Murray’s with all sorts of tricks up his sleeve.
The question for me is whether Dimi can produce the same quality of tennis in the semifinal. Will the victory over Fed have taken too much out of him? There can be a letdown after taking out one of the big three. Or will it give him even more confidence? He will need to bring his āAā game again.
I might be mistaken as I did not see the whole Dimi vs Fed match, but I do know that Medvedev is a real deal and should he meet Rafa in the finals he could give him a fight!
Medvedev says his playing style is similar to Novakās and that he admires him the most! I do think his tennis is more like Novakās and that is what worries me if he and Rafa meet now that Medvedev has improved and is so high on confidence…but first both of them should get to the finals…
Vamos Rafa!
Rafa beat Medvedev in the Montreal Final (2019) 63 60.
Luckystar SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 AT 11:44 AM
“A Rafa vs Medvedev final will be interesting, and I think this time if wonāt be as lopsided as that Montreal final. Medvedev is so confident these days, and heās moving up the rankings so quickly (will be ranked no. 4, has overtaken Thiem). Itāll be two unorthodox players pitching against each other, letās see who can outwit the other to win.”
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The Montreal final was only 3 weeks ago, why would Medvedev be that much more confident? Medvedev beat Edmund, Garin, Thiem, Khachanov, all in very easy straight sets before the final. He even bageled Edmund and Thiem only won 4 games but he only took 3 games in the final against Rafa.
he has beaten Djoko since then and won Cincinatti. If that does not give you confidence, what will?
Medvedev also has crazy stamina. I watched him form up close during the Lopez match. It barely looked like he dropped a sweat despite playig for 3+ hours
So he beat Djokovic in Cincy and Rafa bageled him in Montreal. Is it more relevant when if he meets Rafa in the final of the USO that he beat Djokovic in Cincy than the fact that Rafa beat him 63 60 in Montreal? It’s his performance against Rafa that matters.
Medvedev’s path to the USO SF hasn’t been a walk in the park. The only straight sets victory he’s had so far was in the 1st round against someone called Gunneswaran from India so I don’t see how he is more confident than he was in Montreal. If Rafa makes the final I would the over the moon if it’s Medvedev he has to play. Dimitrov would be more of a challenge.
Agreed. Dimitrov is a bigger challenge. He has given Rafa some rough moments in AO
But I prefer Medvedev in the final should Rafa get there, because Medvedev is a top five player, so no one can say that Rafa has not beaten a top ten player should he win the title.
Also, Rafa vs Medvedev will be interesting as theyāll try to outsmart one another. The other two players, well, I donāt see them having the same tennis IQ as Rafa or Medvedev.
Medvedev learns fast, the Montreal final was their first meeting, so Medvedev didnāt know what to expect; this time Iām sure heāll be well prepared, and BO5 also allows him time to figure things out or changes strategy or tactics during the match. Figuring things out and changing tactics during a match may also be Medvedevās forte, not only Rafaās.
I think Rafa has far too much for Medvedev. I don’t believe that just beating a top player is enough to have the fear factor. Shapovalov beat Rafa but I didn’t think that he was suddenly a giant killer. I haven’t seen anything in Medvedev’s game that would worry Rafa unless Rafa is really having a bad day or he is compromised with something – injury, fatigue or just a bad day at the office.
Daniil has beaten Djokovic the last two times they’ve met. Maybe he’s a bad match-up for Djokovic.
I would prefer Medvedev,too, as a potential final opponent for several reasons. Rafa totally rolled over him in Toronto and established authority over him. That means Rafa should definitely have the mental edge. And Medvedev simply has to be a little bit tired by how after all those matches. He also doesn’t have that much experience with the best-of-five format. Dimi is more experienced. And I would also prefer if Rafa plays a red-hot top-five player for the title. It would be more meaningful than having an opponent who isn’t even top-fifty. And last not least, Medvedev grew in me during those last weeks because he is an intelligent problem solver. Many of the young guns are lost if not everything works out as planned, and they are not able to change their tactics. Zverev (cough, cough…) comes to mind.
Rafa beat Dimitrov comfortably in 2017, the Bulgarianās best year so far. At AO 2017, Nadal was just coming back from injury, the surface was much more in Dimitrovās favor and he still won. I think that Rafa would very much prefer a familiar foe with a one-handed BH. Is Grigor better this year than in 2017? A narrow win over an ailing Federer doesnāt mean much. He would lose fair and square against Nadal who would know exactly what to do.
Medvedev is still a big unknown. I donāt buy his injury claims and he may be faking that heās losing his cool at times. A rematch would be much different from their Canadian showdown, but a healthy Rafa should still have the edge… for now.
Stomach (or rather gut) bugs can hamper an athlete in many ways, including dehydration. However, the effects usually last for just a couple of days so expect a recovered Nadal to dominate Berrettini.
Comfortably?šØšØ He took him to 5 and had multiple break opportunities to go up a break in the fifth. It was quite a physical match. Dimi finds a way to make things tough for Rafa. He has taken him to three sets in Cincy 2013 and also in mc of all places in 2013š³
I meant all of 2017 and Rafa had 3-0 overall. Maybe ācomfortableā is not the best word to describe it since each match had a decider, but besides maybe AO Dimitrov was never close to winning. And all of those three meetings, again, happened in better circumstances for the Bulgarian: faster surfaces, Rafa after injury or tired and knees about to fail.
I love that last sentence! Covers everything.
Don’t like making predictions but I’ll be very surprised if Medvedev beats Dimitrov.
Vamos, Rafa! So your thing tomorrow. We’re rooting for you, and we wish you the best of luck!!!
Is there a chance the men’s and woman’s final in USO same as in Toronto ? The ladies one turned out to be the same.