Rafael Nadal stands above Spanish contingent as he enters semi-final
Published:Rafael Nadal moved a step closer to a potential Sunday showdown with Roger Federer after advancing to the semi-finals of the US Open for the third year in succession.
Nadal beat fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 7-5 6-3 6-4 in their quarter-final at Flushing Meadows and will now face Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny in Saturday’s semi-final.
Nadal had won all 10 of his previous meetings with eighth seed Verdasco, losing just three sets in the process, although two of those did come in an epic five-set semi-final at the Australian Open in 2009 which lasted a record five hours and 14 minutes.
However, it was Verdasco who jumped out to a surprise early lead in the opening set on a chilly, windy night in New York, Nadal losing his serve for the first time in the tournament after 62 successful holds.
Verdasco could not make the most of his chance though, committing two double faults in a row to give back the break and then getting broken to love in the 12th game as Nadal took the set after 59 minutes.
A single break of serve was enough for Nadal to take the second set too, and when the top seed broke in the first game of the third the writing was well and truly on the wall.
Nadal, who is 5/6 to win on Sunday and complete the career Grand Slam, said: “It’s a very, very nice feeling to be in the semi-finals for the third time in a row in one of the most important tournaments in the world – for me probably the most important right now.
Federer is 2/7 to beat Djokovic and progress to the final. See the full US Open tennis betting market here.
