Nadal’s pain is Del Potro’s gain
World No. 1’s knee injury forces him to retire as Argentine enters Grand Slam final
NEW YORK: The scowl on Rafael Nadal’s face and his low mutterings directed toward his coaches in the stands were the first indications on Friday night that something was wrong. When he asked for a trainer to tape his right knee, the level of concern elevated. And then, in perhaps the clearest sign of all, Nadal, one of the greatest ball-hunters in the history of tennis, allowed one to whiz past him without even giving chase.
But in the most unusual indication of his distress, Nadal actually told the chair umpire, in a moment of pique over a questionable call in the second set, that he was going to retire from the match.
And a few games later, he did, putting an end to what had developed into a disappointing semifinal match at the U.S. Open.
After spending more than 17 gruelling hours on court in the tournament, Nadal’s 32-year-old body - specifically his chronically injured right knee - gave way.
The beneficiary was thirdseeded Juan Martín del Potro, who advanced to his first Grand Slam final since he upset Roger Federer to win the U.S. Open in 2009.
NADAL IN PAIN
Nadal, the No. 1 seed, lost the first set, 7-6 (3), and the second, 6-2, before packing it in. He took off his headband and wristbands and went over to del Potro to explain his decision. They hugged, and Nadal walked briskly off the court. Later, he explained that he felt the pain in the fifth game of the first set and that by the second set he could not move well enough to be competitive.
It was a cruel fate for Nadal, a Spaniard, who beat Kevin Anderson in the final a year ago and was aiming for his 18th major title. Del Potro, 29, is familiar with the feeling of losing out on trophies because of injuries. He endured multiple wrist operations after he won the Open in 2009, but he is fgetting back to his form of nearly a decade ago.
DJOKOVIC IN FINAL
He will play sixth-seeded Novak Djokovic, who beat 21st-seeded Kei Nishikori, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, in the other semi-final on Friday night. Djokovic, another player whose recent injury cost him time at the top of the tennis pyramid, won Wimbledon this year and is rounding into his elite form again.
He holds a 14-4 career record over del Potro, and has won six of their last seven matches dating to the 2013 Wimbledon semi-final, which Djokovic won in five tough sets.
Del Potro said he knew that Djokovic would be the favourite, but he reminded reporters that Federer was a heavy favourite in 2009.
Yet Djokovic - who beat Nishikori with a mini stroke of genius, a short-hop defensive backhand that he curled around the alley and into the corner of the court seemed to sense that del Potro would be the fan favorite Sunday.
DEL POTRO’S RETURN
In his lengthy efforts to fully recover from his wrist injuries,
del Potro nearly gave up tennis in 2015. But he said the support of his friends from his home in Argentina - many of whom sang and cheered loudly from a suite during the match Friday - and the expertise of his doctors pulled him through his depression.
“That was the bad moment for me,” he said. “But I think that is completely in the past, and now I’m having a good present, looking
forward for the future. I didn’t expect to get this kind of emotions playing tennis again. Reaching finals, winning titles, having my highest ranking ever in this moment, everything is almost perfect.”
The key to his semi-final, del Potro said, was the first set, which dragged on for more than an hour. That was the last thing Nadal, who was struggling with a knee needed, needed.