When the U.S. Open draw revealed itself almost exactly two weeks ago, it had the cruel idea to pit Rafael Nadal against Roger Federer in the semifinals instead of the final. Juan Martin Del Potro had other ideas.
It will be Nadal against Del Potro, instead, after the Argentine upset Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 during quarterfinal action on Wednesday night. The two former champions of this event will be facing each other for the 14th time in their careers on Friday when they battle for a place in the title match. Nadal leads the head-to-head series 8-5, but Del Potro is 5-4 against the current world No. 1 on hard courts.
They have squared off only once since the end of 2013, with Del Potro prevailing 5-7, 6-4, 7-6(5) in the semifinals of the 2016 Rio Olympics on his way to the silver medal. Perhaps their most memorable–but also more in infamous than famous–encounter came at the same stage of this same tournament in 2009, when Del Potro destroyed Nadal 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 and then stunned Federer in five sets to capture his first and only Grand Slam title.
Given the circumstances, a return trip to the U.S. Open final would be even more improbable–and not just because Del Potro no longer has the same backhand he once wielded prior to multiple left-wrist surgeries. The world No. 28 was all but left for dead earlier this fortnight when an illness plagued him in his fourth-rounder against Dominic Thiem and led to losses of 6-1 and 6-2 in the first two sets. Later saying that he refused to retire only because he did not want to disappoint his throng of supporters, Del Potro found another gear and eventually triumphed 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 in hard-to-believe fashion.
The former world No. 4 preceded that result with routine defeats of Henri Laaksonen, Adrian Menendez-Maceiras, and Roberto Bautista and followed it up by ousting Federer in an entertaining but not exactly a classic four-setter. Del Potro fought off four set points in the third-set tiebreaker against Federer, eventually took it 10-8, and promptly took complete control in the fourth.
Nadal’s trouble at this event came in rounds two and three, when he trailed Taro Daniel by a set and a break and Leonardo Mayer by a set and 15-40 early in the second. The top-seeded Spaniard eventually won both of those contests in four. He also coasted past Dusan Lajovic, Alexandr Dolgopolov, and Andrey Rublev while saving six of his best sets for last–hammering Dolgopolov 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 and Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
“He’s the No. 1 player of the world and he’s playing so confident this tournament,” Del Potro assessed. “He’s a lefty, so he has (a) chance to find easily my backhand. So I don’t know what’s gonna be my strategy for that match. But for sure I will try to make winners with my forehands and don’t run too much, because my legs are tired. (It) will be (an) interesting match to play.”
“When he’s playing well, it’s difficult to stop him,” Nadal said of Del Potro. “Probably the forehand is maybe the fastest on the tour. If he [is serving] well and [hitting] well his forehand, he’s a player that [has] the chance to win against, of course, everybody. I have to play my best tennis. I need to be very focused with my serve and play aggressive, because if you let him play from good positions with his forehand, you are dead.
“I need to play against his backhand, and then open the court, no?”
Yes, that is correct. Del Potro’s backhand came up big at crucial moments against Federer, but it will be under attack on a consistent basis from Nadal’s heavy topspin. The underdog will have no choice but to come over it with two hands more often than not. It’s a shot that can still be effective but is prone to break down when it comes to this post-surgery, not-as-healthy version of Del Potro. And when the deuce court is open, perhaps no one in the sport–except maybe Del Potro, himself–has a better inside-out forehand than Nadal.
This has been an energy-sapping fortnight both physically and emotionally for Del Potro, so the end may be near.
Pick: Nadal in 4
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Nadal 1.12 to beat Anderson. Quite generous odds if you ask me. I thought he’d be 1.05-1.08
@sanmadrids 44m44 minutes ago
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rafael nadal is such a clay court specialist that he’s made it to two hardcourt slam finals this year
@hbryant42 46m
23 major finals for Nadal, 10 on clay, 13 away from it. He’s no specialist, which really goes without saying.
It means a lot. It has been an amazing season of course after a couple with injures and troubles you know? To be back here in front of this amazing crowd, on this amazing court and to have the chance to fight for another title is so important to me.
I changed a couple of things after the first set. I was playing too much to his backhand and I knew that I had change and move him more and be more unpredictable. It worked really well and I am very happy.
When the rounds are coming, you know you have won a few matchs and you have confidence and know you are playing well. The last three matches have been very positive and this one was the best.
It will be very tough against Kevin. He has an unbelievable serve and is a great example for the kids in the way he has come back from injury. I have known him since we were 12 so I am very happy for him.”
yup, called it at 5-3 that he has realized he is not attacking Delpo’s forehand enough and will change it. Some fellow Rafans agreed and we saw him move Delpo around ruthlessly.
Rafa is the huge favourite but he will never take Kevin lightly. Don’t wanna let something like Querrey-Nadal Acapulco final. Rafa’s playing FARRR better and this is a best of five, slam final. Let’s see what Kevin can bring to the table. I haven’t seen Kevin’s single match this tournament.
Can Anderson win a set? Looking forward to the preview…
Ricky will pick Rafa in 3.
I think so. 1.12 with the bookies = Nadal 3:0
Needs to be at least 1.30 for the underdog to have a strong chance at winning a set.
Rafa is best on clay, no argument about that.
On hc, he has made very good achievements as well.
Most likely 4 slams trophies and 4 runner up trophies.
That’s second best compared to Fed and Nole.
But when Rafa plays his best at HC, he mastered Fed and beat Rafa, overall 45;55 to Nole.
Rafa’s problem is he cannot be as consistent as these two throughout.
yes! Rafa has struggled to play his absolute best on hard courts consistently but when he gets the balance right, his aggressive best on hard courts trumps everyone else’s in my opinion. I think indoor hard court is the surface I will say Federer’s and Djoker’s best trump Rafa’s.
I agree with VR, about Rafa’s aggressive best on HCs trumps everyone else’s; it’s on indoor HCs that Rafa struggles more.
I think Rafa has also improved his BHDTL in addition to his BH slices and second serves. He’s hitting BHDTL with more depth now and is able to change direction of his shots better now with that BHDTL added to his arsensal( when in the past he hardly hit that, preferring to run around his BH to hit his FH DTL). I like the way he changed the pace of his shots too by slicing, not giving Delpo to much pace to work with.
Overall, a very intelligent play by Rafa; I’m glad Rafa was able to contain Delpo’s power game and not let Delpo dictate play after losing the first set. I know Delpo might be under the weather, but Rafa was relentless for most of the match and never allowed Delpo back into the match.
Well done Rafa, one more match to win here, go get it! Rafa has now reach at least four finals at each slam, well done again! He has reached 23 slam finals, two more than Djoko.
Anderson is the lowest ranked player in USO history to make the final. he may not win but reckon he’ll give his best until the end and his best is pretty good.
Anderson has been a top-10 player:
http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/players/kevin-anderson/a678/rankings-history
The news articles are using his current ranking to sell a story then. making him out to be a nobody.
And beat Nole, I mean.
Just want to point out how lucky I am to have gotten to not only have seen the Men’s champ play at the US Open, but maybe even the Women’s champ (if Madison wins). I am so grateful. I’m still grateful I also got to see Fed play, even if he went out in the QF. Same with Del Po! I couldn’t be luckier…
lol you are SO lucky kevin!!
Oh God Kevin!…I think Rafa plays this incredible because he knew you’re there and put up a special perfomance just for u!!Hahaha…Nonetheless IF Rafa win this sunday,don’t u EVER wash the clothes that u’re gonna wear that day Kev!..It’s certainly gives us Rafans a very good luck!hahaha…
Anderson has taken a set off Nadal before but a grand slam final is a different ball game.
I know that Andy Murray is not Rafa, but I did just realize something I thought I should point out. Kevin Anderson does at least know what it takes to beat a Big 4 guy at the US Open. Won’t make any difference, but it makes me wonder if I should maybe give him a little more credit than I’m giving him?
I don’t think we should be shocked to see Anderson take a set. Any more is an extremely shocking result.
Anderson is playing really well. He is hitting big serves consistently and hitting big off both wings. It will not be an easy match. Guy is only broken 5 times so far in 6 matches. Played a good match to take Querrey out.
IMHO, he is playing better than DelPo.
Congrats to R. Nadal!
I wanted DELPO to win in the 5th set but maybe next time.
Even though Juan Martin Del Potro lost, i still won but it would have been better if he had won.
This is not the same Rafito that played Australian Open, Wimbledon etc.
Maybe it’s because some great player’s are missing.
R. Nadal might be taking something cos his balling, this guy is a fighter just like me and he deserves to win it all.
Goodluck to Rafito!
Goodluck to Rafans!
If Kevin Anderson wins, i will be disappointed in R. Nadal for obvious reasons.
Congrats!