Long wait over for big hitter del Potro
Nadal hurt in U.S. Open semi
NEWYORK Defending champion Rafael Nadal retired from his U.S. Open semifinal because of a painful right knee after dropping the opening two sets, putting Juan Martin del Potro back in a Grand Slam final for the first time since he won the 2009 title at Flushing Meadows.
Del Potro was leading 7-6 (3), 6-2 after two hours of play Friday when Nadal shook his head and said he had to stop.
“That was not a tennis match at the end. Just one player playing, the other staying on one side of the court,” Nadal said. “I hate to retire, but staying one more set out there, playing like this, would be too much for me.”
For del Potro, it was an odd way to return to an important summit. Nine years ago, he stunned Nadal in the semifinals and Roger Federer in the final at the U.S. Open at age 20. He was considered a rising star at the time, but a series of wrist operations slowed his career and kept him out of major tournaments.
He has returned to the height of his powers and up to a career-best No. 3 in the rankings.
“It means a lot to me,” del Potro said. “I didn’t expect to get in another Grand Slam final.”
On Sunday, the powerful Argentine will face two-time U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic or 2014 runner-up Kei Nishikori. They were meeting in the second semifinal Friday. Djokovic entered the day with a 13-match winning streak against Nishikori.
On Saturday, Serena Williams will play first-time finalist Naomi Osaka of Japan in the women’s final with a chance to win a record-tying 24th Grand Slam singles title.