Rafael Nadal survived an epic 4 hour and 49 minute match against Dominic Thiem in the quarter finals at the US Open to reach the semifinals where he will face Juan Martin Del Potro. Nadal lost the first set by a bagel but he bounced back to win 0-6 6-4 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5). Nadal reached the US Open semifinals for the seventh time and won his 12th match in a row at Flushing Meadows.
“It was very demanding in all aspects. I am very happy to be in the semifinals. I lost in a match like this against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon. Today it was for me. I fought until the end. The conditions have been tough out there. It was not crazy, but tough. I played against a great opponent. He played a good match. I am sorry for him. He is a top guy. He is one of the best guys on tour. He always plays and practices with a great attitude. It is sad for him because he did all the things well to win the match. It is good for me to have two days that probably give me the chance to be at 100% in the semifinals”, said Nadal in the post match press conference.
The Spanish legend will face Juan Martin Del Potro in the semifinal. It will be a re.match of last year’s semifinal at Flushing Meadows.
“It will be a very tough one. He is a great player everywhere. The challenge of playing him on hard is even higher for me personally than playing against him on clay, like at Roland Garros. I know he is playing well. I know that I will have to play at my highest level to keep having chances of success. I am focused on trying to make that happen.”, said Nadal.
Serena Williams said after reaching the semifinal that big wins mean more to her now as she gets older in her career.
“Tennis is not forever. You know that your chances to play these kind of matches every time are less. Less chances remain. I had a very tough injury in 2005. I had the chance to really appreciate all the things that happened to me during my career because I had tough injuries in different moments. When you are back, you always appreciate the things that happen, and I have more personal values when I come from tough moments. I played a lot of long and tough matches in my career. That’s one more today. I like this feeling, but at the same time you feel tired after that”.
Nadal has become the only player to reach the quarter final at all four Grand Slam tournaments in 2018.
“Last year it didn’t happen because I lost that match in Wimbledon 15-30 against Muller in the fifth set. It was very close to make that happen. It is not the moment to analyze all the things that I went through. In 2011 and 2012 I was half year injured. I did not play in Australia at all. I missed Wimbledon because I was destroyed with the knee. After that I didn’t play until Vina del Mar. In 2013 I missed Australia. In 2014 I was not able to play at the US Open. In 2016 I got injured at Roland Garros with the wrist. These are the things that have happened since 2011. This is the history of my career, too. Probably I am sure that I missed more Grand Slams in my career than the other guys. It is a great result, especially at this stage of my career. I am just happy with the things that I am doing, that I am working. I am just happy with the things that I am doing. I am just trying to focus and keep going the same way.
