SmashDebate: Federer vs del Potro

On Wednesday night, Roger Federer will battle Juan Martin del Potro for a spot in the US Open semifinals.

Del Potro has looked strong all tournament, capped off by an inspired five-set win over Dominic Thiem. Conversely, Federer struggled in the early rounds but recent performances suggest he’s got his groove back.

So who wins and what will be the final score? Let’s debate…

Related: del Potro recovers to beat Thiem in Five 

Bede Briscomb: Roger Federer, 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2

Delpo is a warrior. Playing Thiem with a terrible fever, the Argentinian dropped the first two sets and faced multiple match points. I thought he was cooked, but to his credit he dug deep and won. Players with that kind of fight I can count on my right hand.

The trouble is, Roger Federer simply won’t allow that to happen. He’s too good, too experienced and he’ll have the whole of New York behind him.

The only way to beat Roger is to actually outplay him — something Juan has struggled with as Federer is 16-5 in their head-to-head match ups to date.

Yes, Federer has struggled with opponents he shouldn’t’ve, but Floyd Mayweather struggled with Conor McGregor early on, too, and he won convincingly; coming off the back of two straight sets demolitions, the great one is now feeling himself and a crook del Potro will be his next victim.

Bastien Thorne: Juan Martin del Potro, 7-5 4-6 6-3 7-6(4)

Federer is too good and too experienced?! You obviously didn’t see the US Open final in 2009 (that said, nor did I – stupid pay-per-view European TV).

Juan Martin del Potro is the ultimate big game player – and games don’t get much bigger than a crack at Federer on Ashe.

Delpo’s going to lope out onto court, wallop down some massive serves, get those lanky legs whirring and unleash that wrecking ball of a fearhand.

Even if he’s feverish and hallucinating he’s got a chance. Why? Because Roger is injured.

That’s right: the great one is far from 100%. You know it, I know it, even Roger knows it (even if nobody is willing to admit it). The Tower of Tandil is the first player he’s up against who has the talent to really exploit that, and exploit it he will.

So strap yourself in, Delpo is about to send a wrecking ball straight through the middle of that US Open.

Briscomb: Oh, we’re bringing up matches from 2009 now? That was so long ago Obama had just gotten elected, Trump was on the apprentice and Nikolay Davydenko was still in the top five fixing matches!

Juan was a fit and firing young kid, and since then he’s been ravaged by injuries and even contemplated retirement. When the going gets tough Roger will be too smart and too elusive for the one time US Open champ.

I’ll concede del Potro has looked good over the past month, but Federer’s been a wrecking ball all year.

Thorne: Too right Roger has been in wrecking ball mode this year, but don’t you think he’s looked a little bit… wrecked this tournament? Laboured five setters, off-court MTOs, restricted movement – the GOAT is lucky he hasn’t played someone with the strength (physical and mental) to close out a match against him.

That’s where Delpo comes in: he’s a cut (or two) above. He’s going to move the Fed around, he’s going to smash him with those big, beautiful forehands, and he’s got the streetwise needed to finish off the match when the pressure is on.

If it makes you feel better you can keep dreaming about that Fedal semi, but dreaming is as close as you’re going to get to it.

Related: US Open SmashTalk: women’s game big-ticket again?

Briscomb: In theory, it’s a nice argument, but Roger eats tall players and big servers for breakfast. And the numbers don’t lie: he is a combined 56-12 against Cilic, Isner, del Potro, Querrey, Andersen and Roddick (not tall, but big serve).

Listen, 20 sounds a whole lot better than nineteen. Roger knows that, and he’s not going to let a sore back get in the way. And with that I rest my case.

Thorne: Because I live for the last word: Fearhand. It’s coming. And it’s going to hurt.