Del Potro stuns Federer, Nadal next at US Open

Published by Matt Trollope

Juan Martin del Potro (R) is now 2-0 against Roger Federer (L) at the US Open after winning their 2017 quarterfinal; Getty Images
Juan Martin del Potro has continued his fairytale run at the US Open, denying Roger Federer in four tense sets to set up a semifinal with world No.1 Rafael Nadal.

Juan Martin del Potro has maintained his unbeaten record against Roger Federer at the US Open, winning their quarterfinal battle on Wednesday night in four compelling sets.

Del Potro’s 7-5 3-6 7-6(8) 6-4 victory sends him through to a semifinal meeting with Rafael Nadal, who brushed aside Andrey Rublev in Wednesday’s earlier quarterfinal.

The result prevents a meeting between Federer and Nadal, who still to this day have never played at the US Open.

It also puts the Argentine two victories away from his second Grand Slam title after his victory in New York in 2009, which came over Federer in a five-set final – their only other meeting at Flushing Meadows.

Since then, del Potro’s career has been plagued by wrist injuries necessitating multiple surgeries. He’s never been back in a Grand Slam final.

“I think I played my best match of the tournament. I did everything well. I served so good, I hit my forehand as hard as I can and I think we played a great match and I deserved to win in the end,” del Potro said after reaching his first major semifinal since Wimbledon in 2013.

“I think it’s my home court too (laughter). You (the crowd) make me feel happy every time when I play here, and I love your support guys.”

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The two men were inseparable in this blockbuster quarterfinal until the 11th game of the first set, when del Potro played a scorching running forehand winner for 30-30 and tightening up Federer’s service game.

The Swiss, perhaps feeling the tension, double faulted to hand del Potro a break point, which the Argentine converted with a forehand passing shot winner to break for a 6-5 lead.

With the first set going del Potro’s way, it was Federer’s turn to shine in the second. He held a break point in the second game and although he couldn’t convert he broke at his next opportunity – at love – with a passing shot winner to move ahead 3-1.

He extended his lead to 5-2 with an athletic overhead winner and soon levelled the match at a set apiece.

With the tension rising, so did the nerves. Federer double faulted to drop serve in the second game; del Potro did the same to hand the break back in the seventh game.

The set progressed to a tiebreak, which Federer controlled entirety – except the last point. He blew a 4-2 lead and four set points, unable to capitalise on a del Potro double fault and eventually missing a volley to fall behind two sets to love.

“I think I got lucky (in the tiebreak),” said del Potro, who in his previous match recovered to beat sixth seed Dominic Thiem in five sets.

“I made a double fault at 6-6 and that cannot happen against Federer. But in the end I got lucky, I made good returns, good slices, volleys and in the fourth set I played even better.”

Indeed he did. He broke Federer in the fifth game – during which the Swiss botched an overhead – and then found himself serving for the match at 5-4.

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In a tense game, Federer levelled at 30-30 only to wildly miss a volley to hand del Potro a match point.

The world No.28 needed only one, slotting a forehand winner up the line to end the two-hour, 50-minute contest.

“I cannot believe to play another semifinal after all my injuries, after all my surgeries,” del Potro said.

“Especially to play here in New York, it’s great, it’s my favourite tournament, my favourite city to play tennis.”

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