U.S. Open: Del Potro spoils potential Federer vs. Nadal showdown

NEW YORK — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have never played each other at the U.S. Open and, at least for now, that fact won’t be changing.

The two greats, who have squared off on 37 occasions during their career, were on a semifinal collision course for a 38th showdown in New York, but it required cooperation from both players.

World No. 1 Nadal, who all tournament long made note that he’d prefer not to play Federer in the semifinals, did his part to make the match happen. On Wednesday afternoon,Nadal offered a stinging 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 tennis lesson to 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev.

Most of Nadal’s post-match press conference was questions regarding the potential matchup with Federer, but those queries turned out to be premature.

Juan Martin del Potro, the 24th-seeded Argentine who was clearly suffering from a cold the last couple of days, wasn’t concerned with the supposed dream semifinal. He came to play and outplayed Federer for a 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4 quarterfinal victory Wednesday night.

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"I didn't even think about it, as I lost that match, that it's (the semifinal with Nadal) not going to happen," Federer said. "I'm dealing with just trying to understand what happened and just to overcome this in the next few hours, days, weeks, whatever it is. I'll be fine."

"Of course it is a pity, but, you know, Juan Martin deserves it more," Federer added. "I feel I have no place in the semis and he will have a better chance to beat Rafa, to be honest. The way I played or am playing right now, it's not good enough in my opinion to win this tournament. It's better I'm out and somebody else gets a chance to do better than me."

It was not the first monumental match del Potro has won against Federer at the U.S. Open. In 2009, the last time they played at this tournament, del Potro won a five-set final thriller over Federer to capture his lone Grand Slam title.

Roger Federer may never play Rafael Nadal at the U.S.
Roger Federer may never play Rafael Nadal at the U.S. Open. (Photo: Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports)
Federer, who won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year, had few answers to defend against del Potro’s shot-making, particularly his powerful forehand. Del Potro played smarter tennis, while Federer made some uncharacteristic bloopers. Time and again, the Swiss would swing and miss the baseline and sidelines by feet, not inches.

"It's been a tough tournament throughout," Federer said. "I honestly was only thinking about tonight. My head didn't even wander during the match. I knew it was going to be a tough one. I had struggled too much throughout the tournament to think too far ahead.

"In some ways I'm actually happy I made the quarters, so I'm not disappointed, because it's been a good run this year already. Unfortunately I ran into a guy who was better than me today.

"Juan Martin fought like a lion."

The third set tiebreaker was certainly key to Federer’s defeat. Initially, it appeared the Swiss was in charge to the tune of four set points in that tiebreaker, but he couldn’t score the set. Instead, the Argentine, with fans chanting "Ole, Ole, Ole" that resonated loudly under the closed roof, only needed one set point at 9-8 when Federer sailed a backhand way long.

In the fourth set, del Potro set up his win on a second break point in the fifth game with an untouchable crosscourt backhand return winner.

The only hiccup Nadal had in his match came when he was serving at 2-0 in the first set. He lost his service game at 30-40 when Rublev came up with a forehand winner. Nadal only surrendered seven of 43 first-serve points in the match, which made the Spaniard seem impenetrable.

Federer had opportunities to return to the No. 1 ranking this summer, at Cincinnati where he withdrew with a back injury after winning the Montreal title, and here at the U.S. Open.

But just like the hoped-for New York match against Nadal that won’t take place, Federer will not be returning to the top spot, which will continue to be Nadal’s domain for now.