Khaleej Times

NADAL ‘SORRY’ FOR OUSTING FRIEND THIEM IN THRILLER

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Defending champion Rafael Nadal survived an epic US Open quarterfin­al confrontat­ion to defeat battling ninth seed Dominic Thiem 0-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5) and reach the semifinals for the seventh time.

In a gripping 4-hour 49-minute contest which concluded at 2.04 am on Wednesday, world No.1 Nadal won through to keep his bid for a fourth title in New York and 18th Grand Slam crown on track.

However, the 32-year-old was fortunate to triumph on another hot and humid night at Flushing Meadows, 24 hours after Roger Federer had been dumped out of the tournament by John Millman.

After suffering a first set ‘bagel’, Nadal had to battle back from breaks in the third and fourth sets before seeing off the first top 20 player he had faced at the US Open since 2013.

“I suffered, that’s the right word,” said Nadal after playing his longest ever match at the tournament.

“I said to Dominic I am sorry. He’s a great guy, a close friend who will have many more opportunit­ies to win the big titles.”

Nadal had defeated Thiem in the Roland Garros final in June but this was their first meeting away from a clay court.

“He has a great attitude and is a great fighter,” added Nadal.

In a dramatic final set, Nadal saw five break points come and go before Thiem went long with a smash on the first match point.

It was his 58th unforced error on a night when he sent down 18 aces and fired 74 winners.

“It’s going to be stuck in my mind forever. Forever I’m going to remember this match, for sure,” said Thiem after his first ever hard court match against Nadal. “Tennis is cruel sometimes because I think this match didn’t really deserve a loser. But there has to be one.”

The semifinal will pit Nadal against third seed and 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro for the second successive Grand Slam.

Del Potro reached the semifinals for the third time, defeating John Isner 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 and ending American hopes of a first men’s champion at the event since 2003. Del Potro dropped his first set of the tournament against 11th seed Isner, who was playing in his maiden quarterfin­al at his home Slam.

Despite that, the 29-year-old was never broken in the 3 hour 31 minute match where Isner unleashed 26 aces but was undone by 52 unforced errors compared to Del Potro’s 14.

 ?? Reuters ?? Nadal heaves a sigh of relief at the end of his four hours 49 minutes epic against Thiem. —
Reuters Nadal heaves a sigh of relief at the end of his four hours 49 minutes epic against Thiem. —

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