Del Potro stuns Federer in four
Argentine star sets up clash with No.1 Nadal
NEW YORK: Juan Martin Del Potro soaked up the adulation of his supporters on Wednesday and said he deserved to beat Roger Federer in a US Open quarter-final, booking a semi-final showdown with topranked Rafael Nadal.
Argentine 28th seed Del Potro defeated the 19-time Grand Slam champion 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium, a court where Federer has dominated rivals from more than a decade.
“I think it’s my home court too,” Del Potro told the crowd. “You make me feel happy every time when I play here and I love your support.”
Del Potro said he hopes to repeat his 2009 victory over Nadal ahead of his epic five-set victory over Federer to capture his only Grand Slam title.
Nadal, who will keep his world No.1 status following third seed Federer’s exit, had earlier defeated Russian teenager Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in just 97 minutes.
“Against Rafa, hopefully I can repeat the result,” Del Potro said. “I know against Rafa the crowd will be tough for me but I hope you are cheering for me again.
“He’s No.1 in the world, but with this amazing support anything can happen.”
Federer, who raced into the interview room after his defeat, praised Del Potro, saying, “Juan Martin fought like a lion.”
“I feel like the way I’m playing right now it’s not good enough to win this tournament. It’s better I’m out and somebody else gets a chance to win.”
The ruined possible first-ever New York match-up between Federer and Nadal, which had been a focus headed into the match, was an afterthought to Federer in the wake of a comprehensive loss.
“I didn’t even think of it, that I lost so that match is not going to happen,” Federer said. “I’m dealing with understanding what happened.
“Of course, it’s a pity but Juan Martin deserves it more.”
Federer made 41 unforced errors, nine more than his rival, and his 60 winners were 12 more than Del Potro, whose blistering serves took their toll.
“I served so good. I hit my forehands hard as I can. We play a great match and I deserve to win in the end,” he said.
Del Potro, who has undergone four wrist surgeries since beating Federer eight years ago in the final, rescued four set points in the third set tie-break.
“I think I got lucky,” Del Potro said. “I made a double fault in the 6-all and that cannot happen against Federer, but I got lucky. I made the good returns and in the fourth set I played even better.
“I cannot believe to play another semifinal after all my injuries.”
Federer was at a loss to explain his loss. “It happens. I don’t know. It’s hard to explain sometimes,” Federer said. “You do the right things and he does too and it matches up badly your way. I don’t think I played badly. It didn’t go my way.”
As for the four squandered set points in the tie-break, Federer said, “I don’t think those four points made all the difference. I missed too many balls.
“He came up with the goods and I helped him sometimes maybe.”
Nadal will take an 8-5 record over Del Potro into the semi-final where the winner will face either Kevin Anderson or Pablo Carreno Busta for the title.
“Juan Martin is a top player. When he’s playing well, it’s difficult to stop him. Probably the forehand is maybe the fastest on the tour,” said Nadal, who is chasing his second major of the year to add to his French Open.
Rublev, bidding to be the youngest man in 17 years to reach the semi-finals, had no complaints over his loss to Nadal.
“He gave me a lesson: 1, 2, and 2,” said the Russian, who lost 16 of the last 19 points of the opening set and finished with 43 unforced errors.
The women’s semi-finals will be an allAmerican affair after CoCo Vandeweghe and Madison Keys set-up a last-four duel.
Today’s other tie will see seven-time major champion Venus Williams face Sloane Stephens.
American 20th seed Vandeweghe claimed a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win over the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova, whose brief eight-week stay as world No.1 ended with Wimbledon champion Garbine Muguruza taking over.
The 15th-seeded Keys defeated Estonian qualifier Kaia Kanepi 6-3, 6-3 in the other quarter-final.