Rafael Nal kept pulling away in his U.S. Open quarterfinal, n getting reeled back in by Diego Schwartzman. In first set, Nal led 4-0 before Schwartzman got to 4-all. In second, Nal went up 5-1 before Schwartzman me it 5-all. Took more than two hours just for those two sets. Eventually, both were claimed by Nal. And so, ultimately, was match and a berth in a 33rd Grand Slam semifinal for Nal, who prevented Schwartzman from reaching his first by winning 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 after 12:30 a.m. Thursday in Arthur Ashe Stium.

He’s a fighter: Schwartzman

“Like a lion in ... jungle. He’s big. He’s a fighter. He kws how to play important moments, every single time,” Schwartzman said. “I’ve played him eight times and every important moment, he played better than me.”
wonder Nal is 8-0 against guy.

Roger Federer and vak Djokovic are both out of bracket, but Nal is still around, meaning at least one member of Big Three is in semis at a 62nd consecutive major tournament. That trio has combined to win last 11 Slam trophies — and Nal is going to be heavily favored to make that 12.

ne of or men left has played in a major final, let alone won one. Nal, though, is closing in on a fourth championship at U.S. Open and his 19th at all majors, which would move him within only one of Federer’s record for men.

On Friday, Nal will play . 24 Matteo Berrettini, a 23-year-old from Rome who is Italy’s first male semifinalist in New York since 1977. Berrettini barely got re, edging . 13 Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (5) on Wednesday.

or men’s semifinal will be . 5 Daniil Medvedev of Russia vs. 78th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria.
In women’s semifinals Thursday, Serena Williams meets . 5 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, and . 13 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland takes on . 15 Bianca Andreescu of Cana.

Dimitrov won a five-setter Tuesday night against Federer, who was hampered by an issue with his upper back. Medvedev won his quarterfinal in four sets against Stan Wawrinka, who h built a big le in fourth round against Djokovic when defending champion stopped because of pain in his left shoulder.

A runner-up Juan Martin del Potro because of a b knee.

Re: Nal V Federer Exhibition Match: 48,000 Tickets Sold Within 10 Mins

A muggy night on court

This time, on a muggy night with humidity above 50%, left-hander raised some concern by having a trainer come out to rub cream into that forearm during a changeover early in third set. At next changeover, Nal flexed his right forearm and was visited again by trainer, took a salt pill and guzzled some drinks, n shook that arm between points in following game.

Afterward, Nal said he h dealt with cramps late in second set and early in third.
“And n I took some salt, that’s all, and n it was over. body is in good shape, I think. t big problems,” Nal said. “Just, of course, a little tired. Long day.”

Still, Nal mand to play his best when it mattered most against 20th-seeded Schwartzman, an Argentine serened by loud choruses of “Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé!” by an audience that included former San Antonio Spurs star Manu Gibili.
Nal came up with a service break in last game of each of opening two sets, n last one he would need to make it 4-2 in third and he broke yet again to end it.

“I don’t kw-how,” Schwartzman said, “but this guy is improving every time.”

Re: Roger Federer Bristles At Idea He Chose US Open Time; Djokovic OK

A one-sided Semi-final?

Berrettini describes his mental coach as a big help and a best friend. y’ve been speaking on phone before and after every match. And y certainly h plenty to chat about when it came to this latest victory. Berrettini double-faulted away his initial match point and n needed four more to finally put away Monfils after nearly four hours.

“He told me, ‘I need to thank you because I thought that everyone is born once and dies once. But during that match, I was born and died 15 or 16 times,’” Berrettini said about his conversation with mental coach he’s worked with for several years. “I collapsed and got back up. I collapsed and got back up. That match point. Those or chances. I was down n I came back. It’s a great source of pride for me.”

In truth, deuement was hardly a thing of beauty, with both men, clearly spent, fighting mselves and tension of moment as much as guy on or side of net.
Monfils finished with 17 double-faults but mand to avoid any throughout entire, exhausting fifth set until he served at 6-5 — and n he h three in that game, plus ar two in deciding tiebreaker, often doubling over between points to rest and catch his breath.

“A very b day for me, serving,” Monfils said. Berrettini ackwledged obvious afterward, too, saying he felt “a little bit tight.” You think? It all was a bit of a whir. “Right w, I don’t remember any points, just (last) match point, you kw?” he said. “I remember also double-fault; I have to be honest.”

Re: vak Djokovic Out Of US Open Because Of Left Shoulder Injury

Re: US Open 2019: Caty McNally Gives Serena Williams An Almighty Scare