The last time Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro dueled on Arthur Ashe Stadium, it was the 2009 final. Del Potro claimed a five-set thriller for his lone Grand Slam title and eight years later, Federer will finally have his shot at revenge at the US Open. "I think we're different players today," Federer reflected. "We both play differently. Because of his surgery, I think his backhand has changed. He uses his slice much more. Just alone because of that, the game would be different. "I'm playing more aggressive, as well, on the return. I play shorter points. I don't use my slice as much, whereas he does now. It's a bit of a change. We did play each...
Juan Martin del Potro was barely able to move as he entered Monday's US Open fourth-round encounter against Dominic Thiem. Wrestling with the flu and a fever, the Argentine had no range and little rhythm in the early stages, but he refused to succumb to defeat. Del Potro mounted arguably the comeback of the year, saving two match points to defeat Thiem 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4. It marked the seventh five-set victory in his career and just the second comeback from two sets down. The 2009 champion is now into the quarter-finals in New York for the fifth time in nine appearances. "I don't know how I was able to win that match," del Potro said to ESPN in...
Henri Kontinen and John Peers will return to defend their title this November at The O2 after becoming the second team to qualify for the 2017 Nitto ATP Finals. They clinched their place in the elite eight-team field by reaching the US Open quarter-finals Monday with victory over Juan Sebastian Cabal and Leonardo Mayer. “It’s awesome to be back. I had a great experience last year. Played there for the first time and got the win right away,” said Kontinen. “It was a great event for us and obviously had a great start to the year and knew we had a good shot making it there again, and it’s one of the goals for the year. Happy to do it...
Sealed with a blistering forehand return winner, Andrey Rublev stormed into his first Grand Slam quarter-final at the US Open on Monday as he upset ninth seed David Goffin 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-3. The #NextGenATP star advances to a blockbuster clash with World No. 1 Rafael Nadal, whom he has never faced before. "I'm just going to try to enjoy it and that's it," said Rublev of facing Nadal. "This is going to be a good challenge for me to see how far I am from the top players and how much more I need to work. So we'll see. "I would say [Nadal] has amazing legs. He has amazing defence. And for me, I have a good shots. I can...
Top seed Rafael Nadal advanced to his seventh US Open quarter-final on Monday as he dismissed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe Stadium. The Spaniard goes on to face #NextGenATP star Andrey Rublev as he bids to reach the semi-finals, where a first-time New York meeting with Roger Federer could await. [ALSO LIKE] Victory marked Nadal's 50th win at Flushing Meadows, where he won two of his 15 Grand Slam championships in 2010 (d. Djokovic) and 2013 (d. Djokovic). He also reached the final in 2011 (l. to Djokovic). "I think I played a solid match, not many mistakes," said Nadal. "I feel that compared to other days, I feel more calm on court. Is true that I...