mtenis.com.pl

Day 12 of the 2018 US Open finds four of the men’s game’s greatest talents still standing—as each continues his quest to stand alone. Two spectacular semifinals top the slate of play this afternoon, as defending US Open champ Rafael Nadal faces off with No. 3 seed Juan Martin del Potro, before the sixth seed, Novak Djokovic, takes on No. 21 Kei Nishikori. Three of these men have won here before; one has come within a single match of that singular thrill. Four large talents, two wins away from one very large title. Every one of them understands that with Sunday in sight, this is no time to lose focus.

It has been an interesting advance for Nadal, as the top seed has come close to getting planted on a number of occasions to this point. Twice, the three-time US Open champion has been taken to four sets; his instant-classic semifinal win over Dominic Thiem went five. In that match, Nadal dropped the first set, 6-0, the first time he’s lost a set at love here since his 2004 second-round loss to Andy Roddick.

But in effect, that four-hour, 48-minute marathon, which began on a Tuesday night and ended on Wednesday morning, was a perfect microcosm of all the things that have made the 32-year-old Spaniard one of the greatest champions this sport has ever known. There’s the sheer talent, of course, the brilliant shot-making and the incredible movement. But just as important, there’s the unmatched tenacity, the ability to hang in—and on—like a bulldog on a T-bone. Obviously, those ingredients are shared by all true champions; it just seems that Nadal owns an extra dash of each of them. Even in the matches in which he’s not 100 percent, he’s never given less than 100-percent effort. There’s not a statistical column for that, but you can’t fill up the other statistical columns without it.



Even in the matches in which he’s not 100 percent, he’s never given less than 100-percent effort.
This is the 29th time that Nadal has reached the semis of a major, and the seventh time he’s done it here. He has competed in 24 major finals, and his 17 Grand Slam singles titles are second only to Roger Federer’s 20 among men. Through the quarters, the Spaniard owns a lifetime 58-10 mark in Flushing.

The top seed will again need a top effort tonight if he’s going to get past del Potro, who looms as the toughest test Nadal has yet faced here. The 29-year-old Argentine has enjoyed a much easier run to this point; only once has he required more than three sets to close out a match. But when he was pushed in his quarterfinal battle with American John Isner, del Potro shoved back hard, displaying his own brand of trademark toughness in taking the 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2 win.

Photos: Rafael Nadal in week 1 of the 2018 US Open
Rafael Nadal signs autographs during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal signs autographs during Arthur Ashe Kids' Day at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Vasek Pospisil during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Vasek Pospisil during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal speaks to the press during media day at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal speaks to the press during media day at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal enters Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal enters Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against David Ferrer during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action during practice at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action during practice at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal signs copies of the US Open 50 Year of Championship book at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal signs copies of the US Open 50 Year of Championship book at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal practices at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal practices at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal speaks to the press during media day at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal speaks to the press during media day at the 2018 US Open.Defending champion Rafael Nadal at the 2018 US Open Draw Ceremony at Brookfield Place in New York, New York.Defending champion Rafael Nadal at the 2018 US Open Draw Ceremony at Brookfield Place in New York, New York.Rafael Nadal practicing at the 2018 US Open, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Photo: Ashley Marshall/USOpen.orgRafael Nadal practicing at the 2018 US Open, held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2018. Photo: Ashley Marshall/USOpen.orgRafael Nadal and David Ferrer meet at net during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer meet at net during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal reacts to winning against Karen Khachanov during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal reacts to winning against Karen Khachanov during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal signs autographs for fans at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal signs autographs for fans at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal reacts to winning against Karen Khachanov during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal reacts to winning against Karen Khachanov during the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.Rafael Nadal in action against Karen Khachanov at the 2018 US Open.
Del Potro is well aware of what it takes to string together seven matches on a major stage, having captured his first—and to date, only—Grand Slam title here in 2009, halting Roger Federer’s 40-match win streak in that five-set final. After that win, the 6-foot-6 del Potro was hailed as the next big thing, only to have a series of wrist injuries and subsequent surgeries detour his ascent.

But healthy now, the Argentine is once again a serious threat to finish first in Flushing, playing a power game with unequaled poise and precision. One of the game’s genuine gentlemen, del Potro has won a legion of fans here through the years. Now, he’d surely like to win another title.

Nadal and del Potro have a lengthy history, and the Spaniard a hefty 11-5 lead over the Argentine, including wins this year at both Roland Garros (semifinals) and Wimbledon (quarterfinals). At the US Open, they’ve split a pair of semifinal meetings, with del Potro winning in 2009 and Nadal claiming the victory last year. Both times, the winner went on to take the title.

Get comfortable, because this figures to be a marathon; a stellar showcase of shot-making and a ferocious forum of toughness and tenacity. If you like fireworks, you’ve come to the right place. This will be a good one, featuring two great ones. In an explosive five, del Potro is into the final.

SEE ALSO: The Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion and third seed, defeated John Isner, 6-7, 6-3, 7-6, 6-2, in three-and-a-half hours, to advance to the semifinal for the second consecutive year.

September 5, 2018 - Novak Djokovic in action against John Millman during the 2018 US Open. (USTA/Andrew Ong)
Photo by: (USTA/Andrew Ong)
Another man who knows the feeling of standing alone at the end of the Flushing fortnight is Djokovic, champion here in 2011 and 2015. The 31-year-old Serb, who missed last year’s Open with an elbow injury, had gone more than a year without taking a title until breaking through in a big way this summer, grabbing his 13th career major by winning his fourth Wimbledon crown. That triumph on the lawns of London seemed to be just the push Djokovic needed to re-start his engines and re-focus his game, as he backed up his All-England win with a second large title at the US Open Series event in Cincinnati in August. There, he beat Marin Cilic in the semis and dominated Federer in the final for his 70th career singles title.

Here, Djokovic has been lucky in that he’s only had to face one seed in reaching his 33rd career Slam semi; he’s reached at least the semis here every year he has played since 2007. But make no mistake, he’s also been good, dropping just two sets in five matches. Djokovic has been playing with laser focus and surgical precision, executing more effectively and efficiently with each passing round. His quarterfinal win over upstart John Millman—who ousted Federer in round four—was a riveting, relentless effort. In that match, he won 74 percent of his first-serve points and got in 87 percent of his returns, breaking the Aussie four times while only losing his serve once. Through five matches, the former No. 1 has only been broken 11 times and has spent just 12 hours, 46 minutes on court.