Ricky Dimon and Cheryl Murray of The Grandstand along with Pete Ziebron of Tennis Acumen make their picks for Friday’s U.S. Open semifinals. It’s Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin Del Potro and Novak Djokovic vs. Kei Nishikori.
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (3) Juan Martin Del Potro
Ricky: Del Potro destroyed Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals. To say this is a different matchup nine years later would be a gross understatement. Nadal is now a three-time U.S. Open champion and Del Potro’s backhand, although improved since the early stages of his comeback, is not as powerful as it once was and is more vulnerable to Nadal’s heavy topspin. The key shot in this matchup is Nadal’s down-the-line forehand into the deuce court, which will always be open given that Del Potro consistently runs around his backhand to hit forehands in the ad court. Nadal was hitting the DTLFH incredibly well in his marathon five-set win over Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals. Moreover, the world No. 1 has won three in a row against Del Potro and seven of their last nine meetings. Nadal in 4: 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3, 7-5.
Cheryl: It seems like recently, you can just count on Nadal and Delpo in the latter stages of a slam. In fact, this is the third consecutive major meeting for the two champions (and good friends)–all the previous two have gone to Nadal. On paper, Del Potro has the tools needed to trouble Nadal; in other words, he’s tall with big, powerful groundstrokes….But the Spaniard always seems to have the answers. Nadal has had a much more difficult path to the semis, capped by his epic five-set win over Thiem on Tuesday night, but he also had two days rest which should give him enough time to be relatively fresh for the encounter. Nadal in 5: 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-7, 7-5.
Pete: Throw out the overall H2H that favors Nadal 11-5 in this series and look a bit deeper into the fact that each man has won five times against the other on a hard court. Del Potro fans will fondly recall the 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 pasting of Nadal en route to the Argentine’s 2009 U.S. Open title. But that was then. Nadal has not lost since the Wimbledon semifinals and will most definitely rebound from the significant scare he received on Tuesday from Thiem in the quarters. Del Potro’s consecutive set winning streak in New York was snapped at 12 in the opening set of his quarterfinal against John Isner. Order was quickly restored as the world No. 3 swept the next three sets to advance. Nadal however, has been in top form for several months. His deep confidence will be the difference in this meeting as the Spaniard puts himself in position to yet again let Federer know that he is one match away from closing the gap on the ultimate scoreboard in tennis. Nadal in 4: 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4.
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(21) Kei Nishikori vs. (6) Novak Djokovic
Ricky: Djokovic completely owns this head-to-head series 14-2, including 13-0 since losing to Nishikori in the U.S. Open semis four years ago. He beat the Japanese star twice on clay this season and again in four sets at Wimbledon. The clay-court swing came when Djokovic was just barely finding his form in his comeback, so if Nishikori couldn’t win then there is no reason to think he can get the job done now. After all, Djokovic is 20-1 in his last 21 matches with titles at Wimbledon and in Cincinnati. The Serb has raised his level to win his last three matches in straight sets, while Nishikori is coming off a five-setter against Marin Cilic. Djokovic in 4: 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Cheryl: This U.S. Open has been something of a case study for Djokovic facing exactly the opposite player of the one that was expected. Instead of Federer, he played Millman in the quarters. And instead of Cilic, he’ll play Nishikori in the semis. This is all good news for Djokovic. He boasts a 14-2 record over Nishikori, and the Japanese man last beat him back in 2014. Djokovic lost a couple sets in the early rounds last week, but he’s taken care of business in straight sets since. Nishikori would need a whole lot of things to go right for him to beat an in-form Djokovic on hard courts when he couldn’t even do it on clay in the spring. Djokovic in 4: 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2.
Pete: After once trailing 2-1 in this series, Djokovic has rolled to victory in the last 13. The Serb is appearing in his 11th consecutive U.S. Open semifinal. Following his Wimbledon title, an overwhelming consensus concluded that he was indeed back and even Djokovic himself claimed that he was better than before. Personally, I disagreed and witnessed a sluggish Djokovic who still managed to win Cincinnati. The two-time U.S. Open champion has also continued to win thus far in New York. We are still waiting to see the absolute vintage play of Djokovic on a consistent basis and that is a scary prospect for the players remaining in the draw. Nishikori had dropped three of four matches in the U.S. Open Series before finally steadying his game when it counts the most–at a major. His quarterfinal win over Cilic will certainly boost his confidence, but reality will once again set in quickly when he sees that it is Djokovic who is on the other side of the net. Djokovic in 3: 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
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WWW?
GOAT FTW over Delpo.
In the other tsemi, the 2018 Final Runner Up FTW!!!
(1) Rafael Nadal vs. (3) Juan Martin Del Potro
Ricky: “Del Potro destroyed Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the 2009 U.S. Open semifinals. To say this is a different matchup nine years later would be a gross understatement. ”
Ricky, You are ignoring the fact that Rafa was suffering from a stomach tear in that match. You also carefully left out their most recent USO encounter, as recent as last year, when Rafa won:
46 60 63 62
did you read the preview, or did you just stop after 6-2, 6-2, 6-2?
US Open 2009: Rafael Nadal suffers injury scare in defeat of Nicolas Almagro
Rafael Nadal battled through the pain barrier to beat fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the fourth round of the US Open on Sunday.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/tennis/usopen/6147641/US-Open-2009-Rafael-Nadal-suffers-injury-scare-in-defeat-of-Nicolas-Almagro.html
NADAL REVEALS MAJOR ABDOMINAL TEAR SUSTAINED IN 2009 U.S. OPEN
http://www.tennis.com/pro-game/2013/10/nadal-reveals-major-abdominal-tear-sustained-2009-us-open/49446/
whats your point? I am WELL aware of all that.
the point is: Naydull can’t lose unless he is injured.
My point is, Delpo did not ‘destroy’ Rafa, he beat an injured Rafa easily and the fact that Rafa wasn’t 100% fit in that match means that the score is irrelevant and shouldn’t be used to predict any further meetings between them.
It’s Rafa’s fault for persevering when he knows it’s a lost cause and he is clearly not fit to compete. He will play on one leg if he can just because he knows people have paid to see the match but this gesture is soon forgotten and the result is quoted from then on with no qualification – i.e it wasn’t a proper competition. This only happens with Rafa. With all other players, there is always a caveat that they were injured or returning from injury when they lost a particular match.
I don’t have a persecution complex about this, it’s happens all the time. I have taken it up with other Tennis writers or commentators. Commentators will,often say an upcoming opponent has beaten Nadal twice but generally fail to say that’s out of 16 times they’ve played each other because their head to head is actually 14:2 to Rafa.
This actually proves my point that you were well aware of Rafa’s injury in that match yet it was presented as a destruction of Nadal by Delpo.
I rest my case.
no
I remember watching extended highlights of that match. Del Po was unreal. Winner after winner after winner after winner. #destruction 😉
or do you just not understand what “To say this is a different matchup nine years later would be a gross understatement” means?
I read all of it but whilst saying it’s a different match-up this year, you made no mention of their most recent encounter at the USO in 2017 but preferred to cite a match in 2009, the pnly time Delpo has beaten Rafa in a best if five. Not that it matters, because their previous results have no relevance to today’s match. I just feel that predictions always go for the worst case scenario for Rafa.
i certainly mentioned that encounter
“Nadal has won their last three Grand Slam matches”
not sure why you are trying to spin this in some other way from what I wrote. And I even picked Nadal to win the match, so just stop.
You are not the only one, many are only keen on that 62 62 62 victory in 2009. Rafa was hampered in that match with an abdominal tear and was serving around 90 Mph 1st serves. But, no excuses, Delpo won it. However, why does no one care that their h2h is 11:5 to Nadal and that Nadal leads Delpo 6:1 in Bo5 or that Nadal has beaten him in Bo5 on all surfaces. Everyone is too keen to make Nadal look 2nd best in this match-up.
As I said above, none on their previous encounters is relevant to the match today. Tennis is not an exact science, anything can happen. The margins are small and the scoring system is based on winning the key points not how many total points won or the number of aces served.
I have an open mind, I hope Rafa prevails, but I’m not predicting anything, because I don’t know who will win.
Ricky:
“To say this is a different matchup nine years later would be a gross understatement means?”
This sounds like they haven’t played since the USO 2009.
^^^^Or that Delpo had the upper hand up to 2009.
you must not have read the rest of the preview
if you didn’t read the preview, then don’t comment
I can’t comment here on what is said in the preview. If I have any issues with the preview, I will comment there.
Pete, you didn’t look deep enough to know that Nadal played the USO 2009 with a torn stomach muscle. You can google it. Check this out:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enGB714GB715&biw=1215&bih=620&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=BGKRW5StM4-ia__6j5gF&q=USO+2009+NADAL+SUFFERS+STOMACH+TEAR&oq=USO+2009+NADAL+SUFFERS+STOMACH+TEAR&gs_l=img.3…34256.54139.0.54426.92.76.1.1.1.0.153.5580.53j17.70.0….0…1c.1.64.img..42.21.1293.0..0j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i10k1j0i5i30k1j0i8i30k1j0i24k1.0.yzIw1r7YvXI#imgrc=kH5jksizBus8tM:
Joko in 3 , I am not sure about Nadal Delpo…..any way the trophy in the hands of Djokovic no mater who he plays in the final.
From Rafa fan
Schedule for Friday, Sept. 7
Not before 4:00 PM
Rafael Nadal – Juan Martin Del Potro
Not before 5:30 PM
Kei Nishikori – Novak Djokovic
https://www.usopen.org/en_US/scores/schedule/pdf/schedulePDF18.pdf
Del Po over Nadal in 4: 6-4 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5
Djokovic over Nishi in 4: 6-3 4-6 6-3 7-6(3)
Nole and Rafa FTW probably
I’d be happy to be wrong and see Delpo and Kei make the final
Yeah , would be a nice change from the usual hype over Fedal or Nadole .
A Federer fan thinks any other player gets too much hype.
No, seriously. For real.
Rest In Peace, irony. You had a good run.
Rafa in a tough 3;…..Joker in 3.
I suppose Djoko has qualified for the wtf
Not officially. But he will. Usually winning a slam is enough and short of breaking a leg he’ll get the necessary points as well.
not officially
He will if he wins his SF:
https://live-tennis.eu/en/atp-race
DelPo in 4
Nole in 5
What’s the weather like in New York? Will they need to close the roof?
I read 3 weather forecasts which all contradict each other!
Del Petro in 5
Djoko in 4
hahahahaha