Nadal cruises past Rublev to reach semi-finals

Top seed Rafael Nadal swept past Russian teenager Andrey Rublev to set up a possible US Open semi-final against Roger Federer.

Nadal, 31, saw off 19-year-old Rublev 6-1 6-2 6-2 in one hour and 37 minutes under the Arthur Ashe Stadium roof.

The Spaniard will face Federer for the first time in New York if the Swiss beats Juan Martin del Potro.

Federer and Del Potro meet in the last quarter-final at about 02:00 BST on Thursday.

“It’s strange we’ve never played here,” said Nadal.

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“Of course it is a match I want to see. Two great players and I will be waiting for Roger or Juan Martin.”

Rublev was the youngest man since Andy Roddick in 2001 to reach the last eight, and he was overwhelmed by the world number one on his Arthur Ashe Stadium debut.

It was the first meeting between a 30-something and a teenager at this stage of a Grand Slam since 19-year-old Pete Sampras beat 31-year-old John McEnroe in the 1990 US Open semi-finals.

This time around, it was experience that told.

Nadal’s return dominated as he broke serve seven times, winning a crushing 71% of points on the Rublev second serve, and the Russian grew increasingly frustrated as seven double faults further hurt his chances.

The teenager did peg Nadal back early in the first set and had two break points to get back on terms in the second, but the top seed was never seriously threatened.

Four games in a row wrapped up the first set 23 minutes and a forehand winner brought Nadal a similarly one-sided second after 58 minutes.

Rublev battled gamely to cling on through six break points at 3-1 down in the third, but for the third time in the match he eventually succumbed with a double fault on a break point, tossing his racquet away in disgust.

“It happened to me, when I was 18, 17 and playing on the tour against players I admired from the TV,” added Nadal.

“It’s great to have a new generation coming. He is one of the players that has a great future and I wish him all the very best.”

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Nadal Sweeps Past Rublev Into Semis

Nadal Sweeps Past Rublev Into Semis

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Murray likely to miss rest of season with hip problem

Andy Murray says he will “most likely” miss the rest of the season because of his ongoing hip injury.

The British world number two, 30, pulled out of the US Open two days before the tournament began and has not played since Wimbledon in July.

He has withdrawn from October’s ATP Tour events in Beijing and Shanghai and will likely miss the events in Vienna and Paris later that month.

“This is the best decision for my long-term future,” said the Scot.

In a statement posted on social media, Murray said he will begin his 2018 season at the Brisbane International, starting on 1 January, in preparation for the Australian Open, which begins on 15 January, following a “frustrating year on court for many reasons”.

“I’m confident after this extended period of rest and rehabilitation I will be able to reach my best level again and be competing for Grand Slam titles next season,” he said.

“I have a fantastic team working alongside me to help me through this process and appreciate the support from them and all of my fans over this difficult period.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion travelled to New York with the expectation of playing the US Open and practised all week before withdrawing on 26 August.

On Wednesday, he said he had consulted with several leading hip specialists and his own team before reaching the decision not to defend his China Open and Shanghai Masters titles.

Murray is also the reigning Vienna Open and Paris Masters champion, having moved to world number one by reaching the final of the latter in November, before he was overtaken in the rankings by Spain’s Rafael Nadal in August.

He revealed during Wimbledon that he had suffered with a sore hip at times since his early twenties, but it became more significant following his French Open semi-final defeat by Stan Wawrinka in June.

Murray’s preparation for Wimbledon was cut back and he was hampered by the injury during his five-set defeat by Sam Querrey in the quarter-finals at the All England Club.

Analysis

BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

Murray’s last match was at Wimbledon on 12 July, and so by signalling his season is most likely over, he is allowing himself virtually six months free of competitive action.

This is in an attempt to heal a chronic hip problem, which has been an issue intermittently for many years and returned during June’s French Open semi-final.

Surgery, tellingly, has not been mentioned. The back operation Murray had four years ago was a success but it took him a year to return to his best, and with the benefits of hip surgery far from guaranteed, rest and rehabilitation is the chosen course.

Murray is still hoping to play his charity exhibition match with Roger Federer in the week before the ATP Finals.

He will not be able to defend his title at London’s O2 Arena as he is not among the year’s top eight players. When the US Open points are formally added on, he will be outside the eight qualifying positions.

In theory, he could return and win the Paris Masters to qualify but that is highly unlikely.

The hope is that – after a winter training block – he will be fully fit by the time he arrives in Brisbane.

Match fitness will take longer to achieve, but Murray may be in good company in Australia in January.

Novak Djokovic, Stan Wawrinka and Kei Nishikori have already called time on 2017, which could lead to some high-profile clashes in the first week of the Australian Open.

Murray, for example, may not even be among the top 16 seeds.

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Kvitova reflects on her 'amazing' US Open run after knife attack

Petra Kvitova hopes expectations will ease after her “amazing” run to the US Open quarter-finals.

The Czech, 27, lost 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-2) to Venus Williams – just nine months after a knife attack at her home left her requiring surgery to her hand.

It was her 21st match since returning to competitive action in May.

“After this great run here, I hope it will be a little bit easier for me to breathe and play well, and no expectation again,” said Kvitova.

The two-time Wimbledon champion beat 18th seed Caroline Garcia and third seed Garbine Muguruza on her way to the last eight, her best performance at a Grand Slam for two years.

That was despite her revealing earlier in the tournament that her playing hand had still not fully recovered from the attack.

“It’s tough to say right now but overall, I think it’s amazing [to reach the quarter-finals],” she said. “I didn’t really think that I could come so far.

“I’m just glad that I could show it here, that there is a way to play well again. So from my side, in a couple of days, I hope that I will say, good job. But not just now.”

‘Life is still a little bit strange’

“I’m getting there slowly,” Kvitova said on the eve of the tournament when asked if things were “back to normal”.

Despite the familiarity of the surroundings and the overwhelming amount of good wishes from fellow players and supporters, her return to the tennis spotlight has been a huge challenge over many weeks and months.

The attack took place at Kvitova’s apartment in Prostejov on 20 December, and the same evening she had a four-hour operation.

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The surgeon, Dr Radek Kebrle, described the injury as “horrific”, adding: “The chances of Petra’s hand healing well enough for her to be able to play tennis again were very low.”

All five fingers on her playing hand suffered lacerations, two of them digital nerve damage.

For a player who had taken six weeks off in 2015 as she struggled for motivation, there were naturally questions about whether she would want to come back, even if she could.

The following weeks and months would test her passion for the sport, and the psychological effect of the attack lingers.

“Life is still a little bit strange, but it’s getting better as well,” she admitted this week. “Hopefully one day will be better.”

A protective splint was required for eight weeks but therapy began immediately, at first simply gripping a glass or a soft ball, then progressing to holding a tennis racquet, but only for a minute at a time.

Physical work could begin on the bike and Kvitova would play table tennis or badminton with her right hand, until she was finally able to hit tennis balls with her left hand after three months.

Even then it was only backhands at first, with serves and forehands too painful.

“I was surprised by how well she responded and how motivated she was to come back,” said her coach, Jiri Vanek. “Her motivation was huge.”

By the time she began to practise on clay in Monaco at the start of May, Dr Kebrle gave the go-ahead for her to return to competition at the French Open later that month.

‘It wasn’t enough, right?’

Kvitova signalled just a month into her comeback that she was still capable of playing at the top level when she won the WTA title in Birmingham, a victory she said on Tuesday had “put a little bit pressure on” in terms of expectations.

It was not until Flushing Meadows that we saw the best of her again, and at a venue where she has often struggled.

The sweeping forehand winners and swinging lefty serves derailed the hopes of number-one-in-waiting Muguruza, and almost got her past the in-form Williams.

“It was pretty close but pretty far, as well,” said Kvitova.

“It wasn’t enough, right? Well, what can I say? I feel very tired right now. Of course, as a loser, it’s more tiring than as a winner.”

The ‘Asian swing’ now beckons and trips to Tokyo, Wuhan, Beijing and Tianjin, an experience the home-loving Czech freely admits she does not “really love”, but her parting words at Flushing Meadows signalled her desire to be out on court.

With her ranking set to move up to around 12th, she is on course to qualify for the WTA Elite Trophy, a secondary end-of-season event that Kvitova would not normally expect to be involved in.

“I just asked my PR manager if I do have a chance for Zhuhai,” she said on Tuesday night.

“I didn’t really think about the Asia swing so far, but I will need to in a couple days, and, yeah, the season, it’s getting to the finish. Yeah, it will be nice.”

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Anderson beats Querrey in record-breaking tie

South Africa’s Kevin Anderson ended American hopes in the men’s singles as he beat Sam Querrey to reach the US Open semi-finals.

Anderson won 7-6 (7-5) 6-7 (9-11) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) at Flushing Meadows to reach his first major semi-final.

The 28th seed will take on Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the last four after the 12th seed beat Argentine Diego Schwartzman 6-4 6-4 6-2.

“Incredible. It’s something I always dreamed of,” said Carreno Busta, 26.

“I tried to be focused all the time, play aggressive. I am very excited to be in the semi-finals.”

Anderson, 6ft 8in, and Querrey, 6ft 6in, met in the tallest Grand Slam quarter-final, semi-final or final of the Open era.

Not surprisingly, the pair shared 42 aces between them (Anderson 22, Querrey 20) and three tie-breaks, with Anderson coming back from 2-5 down to win the first and 17th seed Querrey levelling in a thrilling second-set decider.

It was Anderson who prevailed in the third with a solitary break of serve, and he clinched victory after three hours and 26 minutes in another gripping tie-break.

He becomes the first South African to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Wayne Ferreira at the 2003 Australian Open.

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Anderson Crashes Querrey's Party In Late-Night Thriller

Anderson Crashes Querrey's Party In Late-Night Thriller

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Kontinen Peers Embracing Higher Expectations US Open 2017

Kontinen Peers Embracing Higher Expectations US Open 2017

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