NADAL SURVIVES THIEM SCARE
WILLIAMS POWERS WAY TO SEMIS
NEW YORK – Rafael Nadal began his US Open quarterfinal as poorly as possible, shut out in a set by a 6-0 score for only the fourth time in 282 career Grand Slam matches.
On the previous three such occasions, he’d lost. On this one, he managed to come back to win, although it took four hours, 49 minutes and never did get easy for him.
The defending champion and No. 1 seed at Flushing Meadows recovered from his disastrous start and other stumbles along the way to beat No. 9 Dominic Thiem, 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), for a semifinal berth at a third consecutive Grand Slam tournament, winning a physical, back-and-forth tussle that concluded after 2 a.m. on Wednesday. Like Nadal, Serena Williams started his US Open quarter tentatively. Her shots lacked their usual sting, her attitude its usual conviction. She was facing the last player she lost to at Flushing Meadows. She kept looking up her coach, as if seeking solutions. After just 20 minutes Tuesday night, Williams was in danger of trailing by two service breaks. Not much later, the outcome was no longer in doubt, because the 23-time Grand Slam champion suddenly was in complete control. Williams put aside some ear- ly shakiness and an early deficit, turning things around with an eight-game run en route to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over No. 8 seed Karolina Pliskova for a spot in the semifinals. It was Williams’ first win over a top-10 player this season. dethroned No. 19 Anastasija third seed Sevastova defending champion Sloane Stephens, 6-2, 6-3, in the other quarters clash while No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro also rallied from a set down to topple John Isner, 6-75), 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-2, in the men’s Last 8 duel. “I was playing really not a good game,” said Williams, who was a point from trailing 4-1.