Top seed and defending champion Rafael Nadal seeks his fourth US Open final when he takes on former champion, Juan Martin del Potro on Friday afternoon.
Date: 7 September 2018
Match time: Not before 4 PM EDT – New York, Montreal / 9 PM BST – United Kingdom / 10 PM CET – Spain, France, Germany, Italy / Saturday 6 AM AEDT – Melbourne. To convert to your local time, use this website.
The world No. 1 has won 11 of his 16 matches against Delpo, and has beaten the Argentine in three of the last four majors, including an epic five-setter at Wimbledon. They have met once previously at this stage in New York, a contest which a then 20-year-old Delpo claimed in straight sets.
Rafa on playing Delpo:
Yeah, will be a very tough one.
Probably Juan Martin is – in Wimbledon he’s a great player. He’s a great player on grass. Well, he’s a great player everywhere.
But the challenge of playing him on hard of course is even higher for me personally than playing against him on clay, like happened in Roland Garros.
Even like this, I had a very lucky first set.
Will be a big challenge. Is a match that we know each other very well. I know he’s playing well.
I know that I will have to play at my highest level to keep having chances of success. I am focused on try to make that happen.
I think last three sets I improved. I increased my level. Was a step forward for me in the dynamic of the tournament. So I did it. I hope to continue that way.
Delpo:
It could be another big battle as the Wimbledon match was. Of course, I like to play always with the No. 1 of the world, doesn’t matter the tournament or the conditions or the weather. I just have the chance to play the greatest on this sport, and it’s amazing for me.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: US Open
Bloody heartbreaking. So sad for Rafa. But at least he stopped playing to avoid making it worse. Behind Delpo all the way now.
Sad day for tennis 😰😰😰
VAMOS SWEETHEART…..KEEP GOING DEAR RAFA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) DO NOT LET ANYTHING BOTHER YOU……….KEEP GOING YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) KNOW WE ARE BEHIND YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) YOU ARE OUR FAVORITE GOAT AND THE WAY YOU HAVE TO CLIME OVER AND OVER IS PRECIOUS AND ATTRACTS FANS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) : ) ….KUDOS AND HATS OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) WE LOVE YOU DEAR RAFA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
I m heart broken. Just kills looking at him like this😭😭😭
Guys did you hear Rafa say to the umpire he’s going to retire, during that service game?
Yes he did.😰😰😰
Oof. Poor guy.
He challenged what happened and said it doesn’t matter as im going to retire- but he hasnt. Possibly at the end of this set?? He looks really pissed off though
And I’d thought it before he said it. I reckon at the end of this set. Hope not of course, but he looks done. Poor Rafa.
At least – and I’m scraping the barrel here – it will mean a fresher Del Potro against (probably)Djokovic. Very thin silver lining.
Wounded panther
Something clearly off with Rafa. Del Potro is playing very decent but not enough to make our champ look so out of sorts.
Hold this game champ!
already a break behind in the second set if he loses the second set he is going to give up because no way in my opinion he can come back with a injury from two sets behind
😭
he is suffering. So obvious he is in pain.😭😭
MTO. Wuh-oh.
Okay. Well if Rafa loses this, I think it is knee-related. He played well in the first set but something is clearly not connecting for him. It seems to be physical. He doesn’t look confident in his movement.
In that case, he couldn’t have done better, and was brave to get this far. If the tape does help him feel more physically comfortable, then definitely his tennis will lift. If not, it was not meant to be 🙂
The next few games will tell, I think.
Nice words Alex. I couldnt agree more. Only problem is that Rafa will keep going and if it is an injury it’ll get worse.
Hiya Susie. I think if it’s serious – and not the average chronic knee pain – he will retire.
He is limping . Oh my god
He is in pain! Clearly
A set and a break down. Cmon Rafa – please get it together
BETWEEN POINTS IN SERVING, IT LOOKS LIKE DEL IS ALLOWED LONGER TIME…….HE IS TIRED AND THE UMPIRE ALLOWS HIM LONGER TIME…..ALSO WHEN YOU SERVE, DEL WALKS AWAY TO REST AND YOUR 25 SECONDS ARE RUNNING…..THAT IS NO SPORTSMANSHIP….AND I PRAY YOU CAN TELL RAFA THAT HE IS ALREADY TIRED…….GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) RAFA YOU ARE ONE DELIGHTFUL BRILLIANT CHAMP AND IT IS SHEER PLEASURE TO WATCH YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! : ) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Oh dear
Oh my God! MTO ? Have mercy Lord please
Its an official MTO. Really hope theres nothing wrong.
I hope so too Susie!
del potro is playing agressive attacking tennis nadal doesnt have the answer and is staying too much behind the baseline
If he loses the second set the match will probaby be over unless del potro chokes