Del Potro into US Open final
September 13th 2009 17:39
ARGENTINE Juan Martin del Potro is the first man into the US Open final after taking Spaniard Rafael Nadal apart in their semi-final showdown.
Del Potro made a lethargic Nadal look second-rate in a clash reminiscent of the latter's 2008 Australian Open semi-final defeat to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The 20-year-old broke Nadal twice in each set to post an incredible 6-2 6-2 6-2 hammering of the former world No.1.
Nadal had won four of his six match-ups with del Potro, but the latter has now triumphed in their last three encounters – all this year.
Del Potro hit 33 winners and had only 28 unforced errors, while an overpowered Nadal responded with just 19 and 27.
Nadal saved two set points on serve at 2-5 in the first set, but was unable to survive a third in the same game.
Del Potro, a quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, clubbed an audacious cross-court forehand winner through Nadal’s defences to draw first blood.
Nadal pushed the 1.98m Argentinean to deuce in the latter’s first service game of the second set and had him 0-30 in his second, but could not break in either.
A poor service game then saw Nadal fall 3-1 behind when the Spaniard double-faulted to concede his third break of the match.
Nadal immediately earned his fifth break point chance of the contest in the next game, but del Potro battled through again to lead 4-1.
Del Potro had three break point chances in the sixth game of the set, but three straight errors allowed Nadal to close to 2-4.
Nadal won the opening two points of del Potro’s fourth service game to threaten again, but the world No.6 claimed the next four points to edge closer to a two-set-to-love lead.
A backhand cross-court winner gave del Potro triple set point in the next game and a Nadal forehand error at 15-40 ended the set.
Del Potro broke Nadal in the second game of the third set to open up a 2-0 lead before cruising to a 5-2 advantage.
He brought up triple match point with a brilliant backhand passing shot and Nadal was long on the next point to hand victory to his younger opponent.
Del Potro will play the winner of the second semi-final between Swiss top seed Roger Federer and Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile, Australian prodigy Bernard Tomic is the 2009 US Open boys’ champion.
The 16-year-old defeated American Chase Buchanan 6-1 6-3 for his second junior grand slam title after taking out the 2008 Australian Open.
Tomic is already ranked 324 on the senior men’s tour, while 18-year-old Buchanan was a first-round loser in his senior grand slam singles debut last week.
Del Potro made a lethargic Nadal look second-rate in a clash reminiscent of the latter's 2008 Australian Open semi-final defeat to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The 20-year-old broke Nadal twice in each set to post an incredible 6-2 6-2 6-2 hammering of the former world No.1.
Nadal had won four of his six match-ups with del Potro, but the latter has now triumphed in their last three encounters – all this year.
Del Potro hit 33 winners and had only 28 unforced errors, while an overpowered Nadal responded with just 19 and 27.
Nadal saved two set points on serve at 2-5 in the first set, but was unable to survive a third in the same game.
Del Potro, a quarter-finalist at Flushing Meadows last year, clubbed an audacious cross-court forehand winner through Nadal’s defences to draw first blood.
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro is into his maiden grand slam decider courtesy of a straight-sets thumping of Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
Nadal pushed the 1.98m Argentinean to deuce in the latter’s first service game of the second set and had him 0-30 in his second, but could not break in either.
A poor service game then saw Nadal fall 3-1 behind when the Spaniard double-faulted to concede his third break of the match.
Nadal immediately earned his fifth break point chance of the contest in the next game, but del Potro battled through again to lead 4-1.
Del Potro had three break point chances in the sixth game of the set, but three straight errors allowed Nadal to close to 2-4.
Nadal won the opening two points of del Potro’s fourth service game to threaten again, but the world No.6 claimed the next four points to edge closer to a two-set-to-love lead.
A backhand cross-court winner gave del Potro triple set point in the next game and a Nadal forehand error at 15-40 ended the set.
Del Potro broke Nadal in the second game of the third set to open up a 2-0 lead before cruising to a 5-2 advantage.
He brought up triple match point with a brilliant backhand passing shot and Nadal was long on the next point to hand victory to his younger opponent.
Del Potro will play the winner of the second semi-final between Swiss top seed Roger Federer and Serbian fourth seed Novak Djokovic.
Meanwhile, Australian prodigy Bernard Tomic is the 2009 US Open boys’ champion.
The 16-year-old defeated American Chase Buchanan 6-1 6-3 for his second junior grand slam title after taking out the 2008 Australian Open.
Tomic is already ranked 324 on the senior men’s tour, while 18-year-old Buchanan was a first-round loser in his senior grand slam singles debut last week.
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