Del Potro stuns Federer in four sets to make semis

Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro stunned Roger Federer in four sets to reach the US Open semi-finals.

The 24th seed won 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 to reach the last four, thrilling his large contingent of supporters in New York.

He goes on to face top seed Rafael Nadal, who earlier beat Russian teenager Andrey Rublev.

Del Potro’s victory means Federer and Nadal will end another year having never played each other at the US Open.

Top seed Nadal is now also guaranteed to keep hold of the number one ranking ahead of Federer.

• Nadal thrashes Rublev to reach semis
• Keys makes it all-American semi-final line-up
• Murray likely to miss rest of season

It is the sixth time the pair have been one match from meeting at Flushing Meadows, and their potential semi-final clash had dominated headlines throughout the tournament.

However, an out-of-sorts Federer was no match for Del Potro, who returned 48 hours after his epic five-set win over Dominic Thiem to produce another thrilling victory.

“I honestly was only thinking about tonight,” said Federer, 36.

“My head didn’t even wander during the match. I knew it was going to be a tough one.”

Del Potro, 28, beat Federer to win his only Grand Slam title in New York in 2009, and eight years later he delivered another blow to the 36-year-old on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“I think I played my best match of the tournament,” said the Argentine.

“I played everything well. My serve was good, I hit my forehands as hard as I possibly could.

“This is my home court too. The fans make me feel happy every time I play here. I hope against Rafa the crowd will be cheering for me again.”

‘I can’t believe I am back’

The Del Potro forehand is among the biggest weapons in the game but his backhand, which has been hampered in recent years after four wrist surgeries, held up superbly.

After the pair split the first two sets with a break apiece, the match turned on a gripping third-set tie-break in which Federer saw four set points slip by.

Del Potro would not be so profligate, hammering a magnificent backhand on his first chance to clinch the set, drawing a huge roar from the Argentine and his supporters high in the stands.

A desperate Federer smash into the bottom of the net drew gasps from the crowd as he offered up a break point at 2-2 in the fourth, which Del Potro snapped up with another blistering backhand return.

Federer’s evening ended with him taking evasive action at the net from a massive Del Potro forehand, and then swinging a wild volley way over the baseline when threatening to break back.

It was Del Potro’s night and, four years after his last Grand Slam semi-final, he closed out the match after two hours and 51 minutes to set up a chance at a second US Open crown.

“I don’t know what the turning point was, maybe I got lucky,” he said. “I can’t believe I am back after all my injuries and surgeries.”

‘I ran into a guy who was better’

The final match statistics were not bad for Federer but he was unexpectedly hesitant, making errors at key moments as he lost his first Grand Slam match of the year.

Having picked up a back injury in the build-up to the US Open, Federer then had to come through two five-set matches in the first two rounds.

“I had struggled too much throughout the tournament to think too far ahead,” he said.

“In some ways I’m actually happy I made the quarters, so I’m not disappointed, because it’s been a good run this year already.

“Unfortunately I ran into a guy who was better than me today.”

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Federer & DelPo Split First Two Sets

Federer & DelPo Split First Two Sets

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Vandeweghe beats Pliskova to make US Open semis

Coco Vandeweghe ended Karolina Pliskova’s reign as world number one as she reached the US Open semi-finals with a straight-set win.

The 20th seed won 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 in the last eight at Flushing Meadows.

Vandeweghe, 25, goes on to face compatriot Madison Keys in the last four in New York.

Keys’ victory over Kaia Kanepi ensured the first all-American semi-final line-up at the US Open since 1981 with Venus Williams facing Sloane Stephens.

• Nadal thrashes Rublev to reach semis
• Kvitova’s ‘amazing’ return to the court
• Murray likely to miss rest of season

“I watched the match last night with Venus,” said Vandeweghe.

“She said it best, we have to admire Serena. They all inspire me to be the next best American.”

Pliskova, 25, needed to reach the final to hang on to the number one ranking, but defeat means she will be replaced by Spain’s Garbine Muguruza in the new standings next week.

“I mean, I don’t care,” she said afterwards.

“I don’t think something is going to change if you are number two. Like, I don’t see any difference between this. So for me, no changes.”

‘I always dreamed of being on the main stage’

Vandeweghe had said beforehand that it would be a match of “first-strike” tennis between two of the best servers and biggest hitters in the game, and the American proved the more clinical.

She won 56% of the rallies under four strokes, which accounted for the vast majority as both women looked to back up heavy serves with quick winners.

Vandeweghe capitalised on a poor service game from Pliskova with a fizzing forehand return to break for 2-1, but her early calm ended abruptly in game eight.

Two double faults in succession prompted an angry racquet smash from the American and moments later Pliskova swung a forehand winner into the corner to break back.

There were signs that the Vandeweghe backhand was beginning to falter but another heavy forehand return gave her a break at the start of the tie-break, and she served it out clinically from there.

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Anderson FedEx ATP Player Profile 2017

Anderson FedEx ATP Player Profile 2017

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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.

• Vandeweghe beats Pliskova to make semis
• ‘Always a pleasure to play the greatest’ – Federer-Del Potro preview
• Kvitova’s ‘amazing’ return to the court
• Murray likely to miss rest of season

“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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Bryans Eager To Put Heartbreak Behind Them

Bryans Eager To Put Heartbreak Behind Them

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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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