Nadal does a demolition job on teen Rublev
RAFAEL NADAL kept up his end of the bargain as he waited to see whether Roger Federer would join him in the semi-finals of the US Open.
The pair have famously never met in New York but, after Nadal’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of teenager Andrey Rublev, the only man standing in the way was Juan Martin del Potro, who played Federer overnight.
Five times they have come within a single match only for one to lose but, with Del Potro struggling with illness and having needed an epic comeback to beat Dominic Thiem on Monday, this was possibly the year.
Asked whether he would be watching, Nadal said: ‘I’m going to have dinner. In Spain, we have a later dinner. But it’s a match I want to see. Two great players and I will be waiting for that semi-finals match.
‘It’s something a little bit strange that we never played here because we played a lot of times in all the important events around the world.
‘I think it will be much more special if that can happen in a final but that’s not possible this year, so we’re going to come back and try to make that happen.’
Nadal was Rublev’s childhood idol but the 19-year-old may be less fond of the Spaniard after this baptism of fire in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
‘It was a good match,’ said the world No1. ‘For Andrey it was his first quarter-final and probably he played with more mistakes than usual.
‘For me, it’s an important victory. The last two matches, winning in straight sets, is good news for me. To be once again in the semi-finals in New York means a lot to me.’
Rublev was the youngest man to reach the last eight here in 16 years and he had his moments, mostly on the forehand, which is shaping up to be a weapon of real substance.
But this son of a boxer was punching above his weight category and failed to hold serve in an opening set that lasted just 23 minutes.
There was no doubt what this meant to the young Russian, who beat his thigh in frustration when he gave up a break point early in the second set.
He saved that one but he had run into Nadal at the peak of his powers, memories of the Spaniard’s shaky early performances long since faded.
Nadal sent returns fizzing at Rublev’s feet and tormented the teenager with his unerring backhand in particular.
Tougher challenges undoubtedly lie ahead if Nadal is to lift the US Open trophy for a third time—remarkably he has yet to face an opponent ranked in the top 50.
But, in this form, he will take some stopping.
In the women’s singles, Coco Vandeweghe became the third American to make the last four when she knocked out No1 seed Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 6-3, joining Venus Williams and Sloane Stephens in the semi-finals.
Early this morning, Madison Keys was facing Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi to try to guarantee a home winner and make it the first time since Wimbledon 1985 that all four Grand Slam semi-finalists came from the USA, and the first time at Flushing Meadows since 1981.
Vandeweghe, 25, has had a strong year in the majors, reaching the semi-finals in Australia and the last eight at Wimbledon.
Now coached by Pat Cash, the feisty baseliner has added more controlled aggression to her game, becoming one of the names who look ready to step up if and when age does catch up with the Williams sisters.
America’s men have lacked star quality since the retirement of Andy Roddick, although there are signs of revival there, too.
Vandeweghe’s win slightly made up for the quarter-final defeat of Sam Querrey by Kevin Anderson.