New York: Roger Federer’s hopes of claiming a record-extending 20th Grand Slam title and a first-ever showdown with Rafa Nadal at the US Open tennis tournament ended here Wednesday when he was beaten 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(10-8), 6-4 by Juan Martin del Potro in a thrilling quarterfinal encounter.
Del Potro, who swept aside Federer in the 2009 final at Flushing Meadows, will now face World No. 1 Nadal for a place in the final. The Spaniard gave Russian teenager Andrey Rublev a schooling in power tennis with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 thrashing.
Del Potro hit huge forehands, big serves and stayed focused when Federer seemed to be back in control in a one-sided second set.
“I think I played my best match of the tournament, I did everything well,” said the 24th seeded Argentine. “I served so good, I hit my forehand as hard as I could and I think we played a great match and I think I deserved to win.
“After all my injuries and surgeries … New York is my favourite tournament, my favourite city to play tennis. I love the support you guys provide,” DelPo added.
Federer had tried to stay away from Del Potro’s lethal forehand throughout the match, but with the Argentine’s first serve percentage at 79 in the first set, he had no chance to break.
With the Swiss struggling with his own serve, the lanky Argentine had one opportunity at 5-5 when the Swiss hit a double fault and then punished him with a splendid forehand passing shot. He sealed the opening set in the next game with another a big forehand winner.
Federer broke for 3-1 with a forehand passing shot as Del Potro started to struggle with his first serve and the Swiss effortlessly claimed the set.
The momentum shifted again, however, and Federer dropped his serve in the second game of the third set when he served another double fault. He saved another breakpoint in the fourth, setting up one for himself in the seventh, which Del Potro gave away with a double fault.
The set went into a tie-break and Federer moved 6-4 up to earn two set points but Del Potro saved them with a stunning service return on the baseline and a mighty serve.
When DelPo’s first chance came at eight-all in the tie-break he did not flinch. He returned brilliantly to force the Swiss to hit a volley long and then closed down the set with another huge serve.
Del Potro then broke for 3-2 with a jaw-dropping crosscourt backhand winner in the fourth. Federer was on the brink of defeat when he trailed 0-30 on his serve at 3-5 and while he regained his composure to win the game, the momentum had shifted and Del Potro clinched the match with yet another forehand winner in the next game.
Nadal had no problems against the Russian who was never in the picture. Before the match during the customary photo shoot, Rublev was grinning from ear-to-ear as he posed with his idol Nadal. However, once the match started it did not take long for the grin to disappear.
At a glance
Del Potro bt Roger Federer 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(10-8), 6-4
Rafa Nadal bt Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
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