‘a source of great pride’

It all was a bit of a whir. ‘‘Right now, I don’t remember any points, just the [last] match point, you know?’’ he said. ‘‘I remember also the double-fault; I have to be honest.’’

In the women’s singles, No 15 seed Bianca Andreescu reached her first major semifinal by defeating Elise Mertens 3-6 6-2 6-3.

Andreescu, a 19-year-old Canadian, improved to 31-4 this season, including 13-3 in threesetters. She takes on No. 13 Belinda Bencic today, when the other semifinal is Serena Williams against Elina Svitolina.

Bencic also reached her first Grand Slam semifinal, following up her upset of defending champion and No 1 seed Naomi Osaka by taking the last four games of a 7-6 (5) 6-3 victory over Donna Vekic.

‘‘I felt like I couldn’t get three good points together,’’ Vekic said. ‘‘I was, like, playing one point good, then bad.’’

Ranked 178th in the world at the start of the year, Andreescu can scarcely believe she’ll play for a spot in her maiden major final today.

‘‘This is honestly so crazy. A year ago I was in the qualifying round. I was suffering from a back injury. And now, what I’ve accomplished this year, I’m speechless,’’ the 19-year-old said.

‘‘I need someone to pinch me right now. Is this real life?‘‘

It sure is, though some might say Andreescu is living out a fantasy in 2019.

Starting her season in Auckland qualifying, she reeled off seven straight wins – including back-to-back victories over former world No 1s Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki – to make the final.

Two months later, Andreescu really announced herself on the world stage with spectacular title glory at Indian Wells – again knocking over major winners and ex-No 1s Garbine Muguruza and Angelique Kerber en route.

Not even more than two months off after the French Open could halt Andreescu’s incredible rise, the upstart taking down Karolina Pliskova and Serena Williams to win the tier-one US Open leadup event in Toronto.

Now she’s a win away from a potential blockbuster final in New York against Williams after pulling out a 13th straight threeset victory.

AP Matteo Berrettini falls to the court on Arthur Ashe Stadium after winning an epic five-set quarterfinal over Gael Monfils at the US Open yesterday.

AP/GETTY IMAGES Belinda Bencic, left, and Biana Andreescu, right, will meet in one women’s singles final today. Serena Williams will face Elina Svitolina in the other.