Tennis: Rafael Nadal rallies past Dominic Thiem, Serena Williams see off Pliskova into Semis at US Open
Wed Sep 05, 2018 08:20:am Sports
3.9K By Obiaks Blog
Rafael Nadal survived an onslaught from Dominic Thiem to eventually make the US Open semi-finals on Wednesday morning.
Defending champion Nadal suffered a 'bagel' in the first set but still won 0-6 6-4 7-5 5-7 7-6 to avoid the same fate as Roger Federer.
Nadal will next play third seed Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the final.
The conclusion to the near five-hour quarter-final, which ended after 2am local time, came in a tie-break.
The opening set was only the fourth time in 282 career Grand Slam matches that Nadal lost a set 6-0 and this was the first time he had been victorious after doing so.
Thiem blasted 13 winners, made only two unforced errors and allowed Nadal just seven points in winning an extraordinary opener.
Nadal trailed by a break in the third set before taking it. The fourth was a wild 81-minute ride that began with Thiem facing break points, saw the Austrian threaten a double break before being pegged back and then a weary Nadal miss a chance to win the match.
With Thiem serving at 5-6 30-30, a desperate lunging forehand looked to be easy pickings for Nadal only for the 32-year-old to net it.
Thiem held on for the tie-break, where another unexpected Nadal error, this time a short forehand into the net, sent the match into a deciding set.
Eventually, the world No 1 persevered to keep his challenge for an 18th Grand Slam alive.
"I suffered, that's the right word," said Nadal after playing his longest ever match at the tournament.
"I said to Dominic I am sorry. He's a great guy, a close friend who will have many more opportunities to win the big titles.
"He has a great attitude and is a great fighter."
- Williams fights on -
Serena Williams overcame a slow start to beat Karolina Pliskova and progress into the US Open semi-finals.
Williams had trailed 4-2 in the first set but ran out a comfortable 6-4 6-3 winner on Tuesday night.
She will play 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova, who had earlier beaten the defending champion Sloane Stephens for a place in the final.
Pliskova, in 2016, had eliminated Williams in the US Open semi-finals - the 23-time Grand Slam winner is chasing her first major since becoming a mother last year.
Williams emphatically claimed this quarter-final win by serving for the match and hitting three aces then an overhead smash.
"I don't think I have another 10 years of having opportunities to be able to play and win championships," the 36-year-old said.
"Every match really means a lot to me. I kind of go out there and I just do the best that I can."
Williams is two wins from equalling Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams.
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Defending champion Nadal suffered a 'bagel' in the first set but still won 0-6 6-4 7-5 5-7 7-6 to avoid the same fate as Roger Federer.
Nadal will next play third seed Juan Martin Del Potro for a place in the final.
The conclusion to the near five-hour quarter-final, which ended after 2am local time, came in a tie-break.
The opening set was only the fourth time in 282 career Grand Slam matches that Nadal lost a set 6-0 and this was the first time he had been victorious after doing so.
Thiem blasted 13 winners, made only two unforced errors and allowed Nadal just seven points in winning an extraordinary opener.
Nadal trailed by a break in the third set before taking it. The fourth was a wild 81-minute ride that began with Thiem facing break points, saw the Austrian threaten a double break before being pegged back and then a weary Nadal miss a chance to win the match.
With Thiem serving at 5-6 30-30, a desperate lunging forehand looked to be easy pickings for Nadal only for the 32-year-old to net it.
Thiem held on for the tie-break, where another unexpected Nadal error, this time a short forehand into the net, sent the match into a deciding set.
Eventually, the world No 1 persevered to keep his challenge for an 18th Grand Slam alive.
"I suffered, that's the right word," said Nadal after playing his longest ever match at the tournament.
"I said to Dominic I am sorry. He's a great guy, a close friend who will have many more opportunities to win the big titles.
"He has a great attitude and is a great fighter."
- Williams fights on -
Serena Williams overcame a slow start to beat Karolina Pliskova and progress into the US Open semi-finals.
Williams had trailed 4-2 in the first set but ran out a comfortable 6-4 6-3 winner on Tuesday night.
She will play 19th seed Anastasija Sevastova, who had earlier beaten the defending champion Sloane Stephens for a place in the final.
Pliskova, in 2016, had eliminated Williams in the US Open semi-finals - the 23-time Grand Slam winner is chasing her first major since becoming a mother last year.
Williams emphatically claimed this quarter-final win by serving for the match and hitting three aces then an overhead smash.
"I don't think I have another 10 years of having opportunities to be able to play and win championships," the 36-year-old said.
"Every match really means a lot to me. I kind of go out there and I just do the best that I can."
Williams is two wins from equalling Margaret Court's record haul of 24 Grand Slams.
SKYSPORTS
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