SPECIAL JUAN
TENNIS US OPEN Miracle man del Potro’s ready to rouse himself for Rafa clash
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO must rouse himself for another physical and mental effort to face Rafa Nadal in the semifinals at Flushing Meadows.
The tennis gods seemed to have decided this would be the year Nadal and Roger Federer finally met at the US Open but del Potro had other ideas.
And the Argentine defied fatigue and illness to defeat Federer 7-5 3-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 in a dramatic quarter-final.
Del Potro won his only Grand Slam title in New York eight years ago by beating Nadal in the semifinals and Federer in the Final.
Given the circumstances and all the injury problems he has gone through since it would be an even more remarkable achievement if he could repeat the feat.
Not least because on Monday he almost retired down two sets to love to Dominic Thiem as he struggled with a heavy cold.
The effort of his epic comeback, inspired by his legion of fans, as well as the victory over Federer, will have taken its toll on the player with the big forehand and even bigger heart.
Del Potro said: “I am recovering well. I did what the doctor said and just played free. I didn’t have anything to lose against Federer.
“I played a smart game during the whole match. It’s so important to me to beat him another time in this amazing tournament. Now is still a harder match. Physically I’m not in the perfect condition but when you play the semi-finals of a slam anything can happen.
“So you must be ready for the chance and playing against Rafa in my favourite tournament, I will try to enjoy the atmosphere, the game. If I play my best tennis I could be a danger for him.
“I like to play him when I’m in good condition. But it’s not the case at this moment. For sure I will try to make winners with my forehands and not run too much.”
The focus of Nadal’s press conference, before the second semi, was so much on a potential Federer clash that asked what he most admired about the Swiss his rival said: “I don’t want to look like I’m going to be his boyfriend!”
Nadal and del Potro have met 13 times. Nadal’s won eight but del Potro took their recent clash, the semi-finals of last year’s Olympics.
But Nadal, who crushed Andrey Rublev in the quarters, has found form as he’s progressed.
The semi-final between Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta and Kevin Anderson is the chance of a lifetime for both men – neither has made the last four of a slam before.
Anderson overcame American Sam Querrey in the quarters and is the first South African player to make the last four at a slam since Wayne Ferreira 14 years ago.
He said: “I can hopefully fly a flag and show kids especially if you work hard you can get there.”
SHAWFIELD DOGS
Race 1 – 480m – 8pm TTT Toolmaker Blanco (Scr) TT2 Oneills Avenue (2m) 542 Miriams Gir (4m) TT3 Glenbrenton Lucy (6m) 54T Killkeran Go On (6m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 3-1-5
Race 2 – 480m 43T Lightfoot Calum (Scr) TTT Ellaal (Scr) 25T Killkeran Gone (2m) 324 Fenceside Fawn(4m) T34 Westend Mick (9m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 5-1-4
Race 3 – 480m T33 Goodison Bark (Scr) 251 Colossal Gent (3m) T24 Race On Spice (4m) 3T4 Honour Valentine (5m) 242 Aero Dictator (7m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 4-2-3
Race 4 – 480m TT2 Parknahown Nell (Scr) 4T3 Romeo Icardi (Scr) T51 Honour Hercules (2m) 433 Fenceside Black (4m) 434 Swift Haley (9m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 1-3-4
Race 5 – 480m TT2 Looks Fit (Scr) 553 Main Incomer (2m) T55 Graigues Azera (4m) 222 Willy Boy (6m) 235 Fenceside Braedo (8m) Betting 6/4 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 1-3-4
Race 6 – 480m 44T Honour Express (Scr) 121 Lynx Sierra (2m) T51 Fenceside Nidge (4m) 454 Dixies Commodore (7m) 30.06 30.28 30.05 30.30 30.05 30.48 30.30 30.20 30.34 30.04 30.07 30.13 30.18 30.45 30.21 30.26 30.30 30.32 30.22 30.18 29.90 30.06 30.07 30.05 30.12 30.18 30.13 30.10 30.17 341 Summerville Lass (7m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 2/1 3/1. 4-1-3
Race 7 – 480m T11 Monagore Judy (Scr) TT5 Honour Roisin (Scr) 163 Bramble Belle (2m) 442 Fenceside Blue (4m) T15 Whos Jess (5m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 4-2-1
Race 8 – 480m 324 Balboa Batman (Scr) 313 Elaines Book (1m) 531 Desirable Fella (3m) 323 Moanteen Marley (6m) 245 Coloured Shelly (7m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 5-2-1
Race 9 – 480m 451 Cinder Lady (Scr) 532 Gavins Snowy (Scr) 524 Boxer Every Day (2m) 211 Fenceside Raedon (4m) T34 Honour Roxanne (8m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 3-1-4
Race 10 – 480m 144 Killure Reaper (Scr) 321 Scullys Emid (Scr) 113 Fenceside Fair (2m) 132 Woodville Thelma (2m) 4T3 Blackhall Merry (5m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 7/4. 5-4-2
Race 11 - 480m 335 Hightown Hill (Scr) 241 Fenceside Belle (3m) T24 Ennis Mikey (5m) 421 Ardera Rache (5m) 322 Blundel Lola (6m) Betting 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1 3/1. 5-3-2
Shawfield Treble Looks Fit, Blackhall Merry, Dixies
Commodore 30.18 30.16 30.23 30.22 30.08 30.20 30.10 30.03 30.24 30.06 29.99 29.88 29.82 29.68 30.13 30.13 30.16 30.25 30.30 30.16 30.13 30.11 30.10 30.01 30.17 30.08