Federer out, Del Potro will face Nadal in US Open semis

Some things are meant to happen in life and perhaps Roger Federer versus Rafael Nadal at the US Open is simply not among them.

Their 37 career meetings will still not include a match-up in New York after the ghosts of the 2009 final seemed to revisit Federer as he was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4 by Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarter finals.

The Argentinian would surely have built on that triumph against the Swiss from eight years ago were it not for chronic wrist injuries, and even the most ardent fan of the Swiss would struggle not to have a smidgen of pleasure for him after this.

He now meets Nadal after bludgeoning Federer with his serve and forehand and summoning up a little more composure on the biggest points. The Swiss had four set points in the third-set tiebreak, but could not put him away.

Perhaps he felt in his legs the five setters he went through in the first two rounds, or the back twinges that have recently affected him, and he will have to settle for two Grand Slam titles this year, which is still an extraordinary return for him.

Afterwards Del Potro thanked the vociferous support for him on the Arthur Ashe Stadium which, while outnumbered, provided at least as much noise as that of his ever popular opponent. He managed to ignore his missed first serves being clapped on occasions.

“I think it’s my home court too,” he said. “It makes me very happy every time I play here. I think I played my best match of the tournament, I hit my forehand as hard as I can, I deserved to win in the end.

“I can’t believe I’m playing another semi-final after the injuries and surgeries, especially here in New York.”