On Friday, Rafael Nadal will face Juan Martin del Potro for a spot in the US Open final.
The Argentine defeated Roger Federer in four sets. His victory means Fedal will end another year having never played each other in New York.
Rafa is now also guaranteed to keep hold of the number one ranking ahead of Federer.
Date: 8 September 2017
Match time: NOT BEFORE 5:30 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 10:30 PM BST – United Kingdom / 11:30 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 7:30 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
Rafa on facing Delpo:
If I play against him, of course I have to play my best tennis.
I need to be very focused with my serve and play aggressive, because if you let him play from good positions with his forehand, you are dead, because he plays super-aggressive, hitting so hard.
So probably he’s unstoppable from that positions, no? I need to play long, I need to play against his backhand, and then open the court.
Delpo on facing Rafa:
Well I played him in 2009 too, the same as Roger, and hopefully I can achieve the same result.
We look older but Rafa is playing a great season. He’s No. 1 in the world but with this amazing support, everything can happen.
Rafa leads the big man from Tandil 8-5 over their careers, but they haven’t played this season. Delpo has won their past two meetings and in 2009 he beat Rafa 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 in the US Open semi-finals. Here are all the matches they have played against each other:
| YEAR | EVENT | SURFACE | RND | WINNER | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games Brazil |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Juan Martin del Potro |
57 64 765 |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Shanghai China |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Juan Martin del Potro |
62 64 |
| 2013 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | F | Rafael Nadal |
46 63 64 |
| 2011 | ESP vs.ARG DC Final Spain |
RR | Rafael Nadal |
16 64 61 760 |
|
| 2011 | Wimbledon Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
766 36 764 64 |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Madrid Spain |
Outdoor Clay | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
W/O |
| 2011 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Rafael Nadal |
64 64 |
| 2009 | US Open NY, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | SF | Juan Martin del Potro |
62 62 62 |
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Canada Canada |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Juan Martin del Potro |
765 61 |
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Juan Martin del Potro |
64 36 763 |
| 2009 | ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Indian Wells CA, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | QF | Rafael Nadal |
62 64 |
| 2007 | London / Queen’s Club Great Britain |
Outdoor Grass | R32 | Rafael Nadal |
64 64 |
| 2007 | Roland Garros France |
Outdoor Clay | R128 | Rafael Nadal |
75 63 62 |
| 2007 | ATP Masters Series Miami FL, U.S.A. |
Outdoor Hard | R16 | Rafael Nadal |
60 64 |
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Fee-Fi-fo-fum
I smell the blood of an English man: ( make that an Argentinian man)
Be he alive, or be he dead,
I’ll grind his bones to make my bread. ( Or bagel)
Rafa has slayed the Gentle Giant
Rafa I am ecstatic
What a magnificent night for Rafa Fans , can’t wait for Sunday
Night All.
Could not comment because I kept my fingers crossed and was so NERVOUS ! But Gosh, i LOVE Nadal 🙂
I do hope that delpo (no matter how much i like him and despite rafas break ) doesnt make a come back in this set. I couldnt bear a 5th set. But it’s the kind of thing that delpo does. Cross fingers that doesnt happen.
DP can’t do anything with Rafa’s slice while Rafa just punishes his ruthlessly as expected. 😊
This can’t get any better. I’m so proud of Rafa. Never thought I would get the chance to see 2010/13 USO Rafa again. 😭🤧
WOW RAFA, I think Kevin Anderson will be wanting to right a sick note for Sunday after watching your performance.
Lol. Maria.
Kevin is a nice guy and great talent as well. My prediction and also hope for a final bt them are becoming true. 🙂
GENIUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YEH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) VAMOS CHAMP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 🙂 Beautiful 2 SETS LEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ); ) : ) : ): ) The crowd ADORES YOU DEAR RAFA & RESPECTS YOUR FANTASTIC TENNIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) : ) BRILLIANT LEAD & SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
YOU ARE PLAYING & MIXING & SIMPLY AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) 🙂 : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : )
77% 1st serve % and 83% 2nd serve win for Rafa in the 3rd set.
DP still playing some very great points but Rafa is simply being unplayable. Only a goating Novak could hang with him now. Not even Roger.
🎶Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!🎶
Sorry a bit premature. maybe.
You’ve got him round the throat Rafa! Don’t let go. Squeeze harder!
I quite agree with the commentator who said that if Del Potro hadn’t had so many injuries throughout his career that he would have won some grandslam , I don’t think Rafas’s trophy cabinet would look any different but Roger’s Hmmmmn…
I knew it. Rafa’s BH can go toe to toe with that fearhand of DP.
Ah such a pitty. If he broke there he would serve first for the 3rd set.
Not to mention serving out the set is stressful and always a bit risky.
I just have this funny vision of Roger sat in front of the TV with a doll of Nadal , sticking pins in it. ” It’s not working Mirka” Boo hoo
Sorry couldn’t resist saying it.
Oh that is hilarious Maria and i can picture it too except i see mirka with the pins and roger holding the rafa doll squeezing the life out of it. Lol
Your probably right Susie , I think she wears the trousers in that relationship Lol
So funny! Now you’re making me have that vision Maria E.
Lol lorna but did you see mirkas face during rogers match against delpo. It was thunderous
Yeah, “Lady” Mirka’s face was a picture! I can just imagine her saying to Roger after the match ” It’s all your fault . I bought this over the top, sparkly silver outfit for nothing ‘cos you lost! I’d have taken it back to the shop and asked for a refund, but the whole world’s seen me wear it”.
Yes that horrendous silver outfit was hideous and i really wish i hadnt seen it never mind the world. Lol
‘ I think she wears the trousers in that relationship’ loool
Haha. Navdeep. Yeah I think so as well but I actually love and admire their love story. Fed is one lucky guy to have found Mirka. 🙂
Beast mode Rafa😀🙌😎. I want an off day. should I kill my boss ? that maybe too much lol
Maybe a little Navdeep, calling a sickie will do Lol
Oh good idea maria
So glad youre still watching navdeep. A die hard fan you are. No killing required – let rafa do all the killing today. Lol
May I offer my accomplice?
Read it and weep Roger, time to eat your words😁
Haha. Looks like some Fed fans has finally appeared with his life mission of pressing the dislike button here. 🤡
Hey Maria. I reckon rafa would have had roger the dodger in straight sets. But we’ll never know. He hates it that rafa is no1
Wow!!! 9 straight games. Can see that Delpo is tired.
As expected, Rafa’s BH and FH BOTH harmonising now! Who needs that FH-BH CC? Can’t say how I love it enough!
Maria and Rainier – that was so funny. Raffy just jumped up and meowed loudly when rafa hit that glorious forehand to break. Made me jump twice. Lol
Ahhhhh. Pls kiss him twice for me, Susie. 😘😘
Done
Raffy 🐱 , number 1fan
He has no choice Maria. Lol
Oh dear lord! THIS IS RAFA!
What a sight to behold!
Roger was so wise to duck him (again).