Favourite Nadal Advance Into Semis
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2019 12 Favourite Nadal advance into semis ing, point after point. Here I am in the Rafael Nadal beats semi-finals. I’m super happy, it means • everything.” Diego Schwartzman to Nadal, who was forced to retire dur- remain on course for ing last year’s semi-final against Juan fourth US Open title Martin del Potro, played down con - KNOW WHAT cerns over his left forearm as he re - Matteo Berrettini ceived treatment early in the third set. • “Physically I am fine. Today was a outlasts Gael Monfils in US very heavy day, big humidity out there. Matteo Berrettini Open epic to reach semis I’m this kind of player who sweats a matched Corrado little, but sometimes under these con- Barazzutti’s run to the AFP | New York ditions it’s tough,” he said. last four in 1977 after Nadal is the only former major cham- outlasting Gael Monfils pion left in the men’s field following in three hours and 57 afael Nadal will play Italy’s Mat- the elimination of Roger Federer and minutes teo Berrettini in the US Open Novak Djokovic, leaving him as the Rsemi-finals after the 18-time clear frontrunner in his pursuit of a Grand Slam champion defeated Ar- 19th major title. Monfils coughed up a costly pair of gentine 20th seed Diego Schwartzman Schwartzman, who stands a mere 5ft double faults in the breaker -- and 17 in 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. 7in (1.70m), was bidding to become the total -- as Berrettini surged 5-2 ahead, Second seed Nadal -- a winner at shortest Grand Slam semi-finalist since the Frenchman rescuing a fourth match Flushing Meadows in 2010, 2013 and 5-foot-6 Harold Solomon at Roland point before a booming serve from the 2017 -- beat a spirited Schwartzman for Garros in 1980. Italian clinched a memorable win. the eighth time in as many meetings in “He’s like a lion in the middle of the “Right now I don’t remember any Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return to Diego Schwartzman of Argentina a nearly three-hour match that finished jungle. He’s a fighter,” Schwartzman points, just the match point. I remem- early yesterday morning. said of Nadal. ber also my double fault I must be hon- Schwartzman put up firm resistance “He knows how to play the important and 57 minutes. blew a 5-2 lead in the final set and four est,” Berrettini said. against Nadal and twice fought back moments every single time. I played The 23-year-old Berrettini joined match points before finally seeing off Defeat for Monfils prolonged from double-break deficits in the first eight times, and every important mo- Barazzutti, 1976 Roland Garros cham- Monfils in a thriller at Arthur Ashe France’s lengthy wait for a first men’s two sets, but the Spaniard found anoth- ment he played better than me.” pion Adriano Panatta and Marco Cec- Stadium. Grand Slam title since Yannick Noah er gear at crucial moments to secure an chinato as just the fourth Italian to ad- “I was lucky I had match points and won the French Open in 1983. eighth semi-final berth in New York. ‘Great fight’ vance to a men’s Grand Slam semi-final he didn’t have it -- it’s better when you “I know how to bounce back, I’ve “Straight sets but big challenges es- Berrettini, the 24th seed, became the in singles. have them. I’m really proud of myself, I had some tough ones here before,” pecially after the first two sets, having first Italian man to reach the US Open “What a great fight. I think it was was always focusing on the next point.” said Monfils, who was beaten by Roger 4-0 and 5-1 and losing both breaks in a semi-finals in 42 years. one of the best matches I maybe ever A nervous Berrettini doubled-faulted Federer in the 2014 quarter-finals after row, but I know how good he is when He matched Corrado Barazzutti’s run saw -- I was playing but I also saw. I’m on his first match point at 5-3 before a holding two match points. he’s confident,” Nadal said. to the last four in 1977 after outlasting really happy I don’t know what to say,” resolute Monfils fought off two more “It was tough, I was just competing “I’m so happy how I accepted the 13th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils Berrettini said. on his serve to send the deciding set as much as I could but there was a big situation and challenge and kept go- 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in three hours The first-time Slam quarter-finalist into a tie-break. lack of serve today.” As coach I wouldn’t have wanted Australia’s Steve Smith scores Neymar back, says del Bosque Reuters | Madrid but if I was a coach of double century in Ashes return a club I wouldn’t ormer Spain manager Vicente del have brought him AFP | Manchester FBosque has said he would not have back,” Del Bos- brought Neymar back to La Liga had he que told Span- masterful double cen- been coach of Barcelona or Real Madrid, ish television A tury from the prolific even though he recognises the Brazilian’s network Es- Steve Smith carried Aus- outstanding qualities as a player. tudio Esta- tralia to 497-8 declared Barcelona held several meetings with dio. against England on day Paris St Germain to bring the Brazilian “Whilst two of the fourth Ashes back to the Camp Nou two years after he I’ll say he series Test at Old Traf - walked out on them to join the French is a bril- ford in Manchester side for a world record fee of 222 million liant play- Neymar yesterday. euros (about $245 million). er, I don’t Smith returned to the But the two clubs failed to strike a deal think very XI after being ruled out before the transfer window closed on highly of him for other rea- of last week’s third Test Sept. 2, with PSG’s sporting director Leon- sons.” at Headingley in Leeds ardo claiming that the Spanish champions Del Bosque, who won the due to a concussion. He had had failed to meet his side’s asking price. 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 been struck on the side of Leonardo also acknowledged that his as Spain coach plus two Cham- the neck by a fierce short club had spoken to Real Madrid about pions League titles as coach of delivery from fast bowler the forward. Real, also criticised Neymar for the Jofra Archer during the Neymar has scored 51 goals for PSG but manner in which he left Barcelona second Test at Lord’s in both of his seasons in France have been in 2017. London. marred by serious injuries at key stages “With Barcelona he did not behave The fidgety in the campaign. well, in fact he behaved badly, very bad- right-hander now has He also had an on-field dispute with ly,” he added. three double tons in team mate Edinson Cavani over penalty “If you surveyed Barcelona fans Ashes series cricket – taking duties. I’m sure that more than half of the third most after Aus- “I think it would have been good for them wouldn’t want him back. tralia’s Sir Donald the Spanish league if he had come back There’s a reason for that.” Bradman and Eng- land’s Wally Ham- mond with eight Jofra Archer of England reacts after missing a return catch of Steve Smith (R) and four, respectively. of Australia Smith’s three highest scores He welcomed a fourth suc - ‘I’m not sure he’s learned anything’: in Test-match cricket are all cessive half-century during a Nick against England. He was unable telling 116-run alliance with Kyrgios Laver calls for Kyrgios ban to surpass his 239 in Perth in Smith. 2017 and 213 at Lord’s in 2015, England’s reply reached 23 AFP | New York tigated for potential rule violations after though. for one by the close of play. calling the ATP Tour “corrupt” during the He was eventually out for 211 Opener Rory Burns and night- ennis great Rod Laver has called US Open last week. 211. This would have been sub- runs were scored by watchman Craig Overton will Tfor Nick Kyrgios to be suspended While he later backed away from the stantially less, had Jack Leach Steve Smith before resume on Friday. from the ATP Tour comment, it followed a record US$113,000 not bowled a no-ball shortly losing his wicket The five-match series is cur- over bad behav- fine issued to him by the ATP for his after Smith reached three fig- rently locked at 1-1. Australia iour, saying his actions at the Cincinnati Masters in ures. Leach had Smith caught won the series opener at Edg- fellow Australian August. by slip fielder Ben Stokes, baston in Birmingham on the appears not to be During that meltdown, he smashed but overstepped the bowling Cup earlier this year, but has a back of Smith’s successive cen- learning from his two racquets and described an um - crease. mere 79 runs in seven innings turies. The Lord’s match was mistakes. pire as a “tool”, with his sanction in - Smith’s stay was particularly this series. drawn. The Leeds fixture was The explosive and cluding fines for ball abuse, leaving important after opener David The South African-born Mar- won by England, thanks largely temperamental 24-year- the court without permission, an au - Warner fell for a duck.