Del Potro aims to spoil fun
A TEENAGE tyro and Juan Martin del Potro’s sledgehammer forehand stand between a blockbuster US Open semifinal between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The two tennis giants marched into the last eight with straight-set victories to edge tantalisingly close to a long-awaited first-time showdown in New York.
Nadal crushed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 in one hour and 41 minutes before Federer swept past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 in an equally clinical fourthround display to surge into a mind-boggling 51st grand slam quarter-final.
Nadal will square off with 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev, who tamed ninthseeded Belgian David Goffin 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to become the youngest man to reach the Open quarter-finals since Andy Roddick in 2001.
Federer faces the biggest test yet after Del Potro — the only man to ever topple the great Swiss in a US Open final — sent fans into a frenzy on the Grandstand court with a dramatic five-set triumph over sixth seed Dominic Thiem. Del Potro overcame illness, two match points and a two-set deficit for the first time at a major to wear Thiem down 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 after three hours and 35 minutes.
The ailing 2009 champion seemed close to retirement early on as Thiem took command but somehow conjured the finest comeback of his career, from 5-2 down in the fourth set.
“What can I say after a battle like this. I was sick the last two days and I just tried to improve game after game,” Del Potro said. “I fought like this because of you guys, so thank you very much,” he said in reference to the raucous Argentine fans in attendance.
Even Federer said he heard the almighty roar from Arthur Ashe Stadium when Del Potro sealed his extraordinary win.
Del Potro famously ended Federer’s five-year reign in 2009, also ultimately denying Federer a non-calendar-year grand slam, before a chronic wrist injury almost ended his career.
Once again, in inflicting Thiem with his first loss from two sets up at a slam, Del Potro proved that it’s not just his deadly forehand but arguably the biggest heart in tennis that threatens to bring Federer unstuck once again.
“It’s great to see him back on the tour. He’s had a rough side for a lot of years with his wrist. It’s wonderful for our sport really,” Federer said. “To play him here again after our epic final in 2009 is great for both of us.”