46 Friday Sports Friday, September 6, 2019 Favorite Nadal into US Open semis as Berrettini wins thriller NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal will play Italy’s (1.70m), was bidding to become the shortest Matteo Berrettini in the US Open semi-finals Grand Slam semi-finalist since 5-foot-6 Harold after the 18-time Grand Slam champion de- Solomon at Roland Garros in 1980. “He’s like a feated Argentine 20th seed Diego Schwartz- lion in the middle of the jungle. He’s a fighter,” man 6-4, 7-5, 6-2. Second seed Nadal — a Schwartzman said of Nadal. “He knows how to winner at Flushing Meadows in 2010, 2013 and play the important moments every single time. 2017 — beat a spirited Schwartzman for the I played eight times, and every important mo- eighth time in as many meetings in a nearly ment he played better than me.” three-hour match that finished early Thursday morning. ‘Great fight’ Schwartzman put up firm resistance against Berrettini, the 24th seed, became the first Nadal and twice fought back from double- Italian man to reach the US Open semi-finals break deficits in the first two sets, but the in 42 years. He matched Corrado Barazzutti’s Spaniard found another gear at crucial mo- run to the last four in 1977 after outlasting ments to secure an eighth semi-final berth in 13th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, New York. “Straight sets but big challenges es- 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in three hours and 57 min- pecially after the first two sets, having 4-0 and utes. The 23-year-old Berrettini joined Baraz- 5-1 and losing both breaks in a row, but I know zutti, 1976 Roland Garros champion Adriano how good he is when he’s confident,” Nadal Panatta and Marco Cecchinato as just the said. “I’m so happy how I accepted the situa- fourth Italian to advance to a men’s Grand Slam tion and challenge and kept going, point after semi-final in singles. point. Here I am in the semi-finals. I’m super “What a great fight. I think it was one of the happy, it means everything.” best matches I maybe ever saw — I was play- Nadal, who was forced to retire during last ing but I also saw. I’m really happy I don’t year’s semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro, know what to say,” Berrettini said. The first- NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot during his Men’s Singles quarterfinal match against Diego played down concerns over his left forearm as time Slam quarter-finalist blew a 5-2 lead in Schwartzman of Argentina on day ten of the 2019 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis he received treatment early in the third set. the final set and four match points before fi- Center. —AFP “Physically I am fine. Today was a very heavy nally seeing off Monfils in a thriller at Arthur day, big humidity out there. I’m this kind of Ashe Stadium. “I was lucky I had match points breaker — and 17 in total — as Berrettini since Yannick Noah won the French Open in player who sweats a little, but sometimes under and he didn’t have it — it’s better when you surged 5-2 ahead, the Frenchman rescuing a 1983. “I know how to bounce back, I’ve had these conditions it’s tough,” he said. Nadal is have them. I’m really proud of myself, I was al- fourth match point before a booming serve some tough ones here before,” said Monfils, the only former major champion left in the ways focusing on the next point.” from the Italian clinched a memorable win. who was beaten by Roger Federer in the 2014 men’s field following the elimination of Roger A nervous Berrettini doubled-faulted on his “Right now I don’t remember any points, just quarter-finals after holding two match points. Federer and Novak Djokovic, leaving him as first match point at 5-3 before a resolute Mon- the match point. I remember also my double “It was tough, I was just competing as much as the clear frontrunner in his pursuit of a 19th fils fought off two more on his serve to send fault I must be honest,” Berrettini said. I could but there was a big lack of serve major title. the deciding set into a tie-break. Monfils Defeat for Monfils prolonged France’s today.” “I’m going to take the positive from Schwartzman, who stands a mere 5ft 7in coughed up a costly pair of double faults in the lengthy wait for a first men’s Grand Slam title these two weeks,” he added. —AFP tante, for the first time Thursday at Arthur Bencic hopes to Ashe Stadium. She’s trying to become the first Canadian singles Grand Slam champion. “That tatives left in the men’s draw at Flushing would be pretty awesome,” said Andreescu. “If I’ll bounce back, Meadows but was hindered by serving trou- end 20-year it happens, then I think I can pave way for bles that resulted in 17 double faults — two of many other athletes, the next generation, not which came in the fifth set tie-break. “I think Slam drought for only for Canadian tennis but I think for many says Monfils after the key today was I served very poorly. My people.” serve was very off, a lot of double faults. Not Ukraine’s fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina meets sore US Open loss at all first serve. That’s I think a key in the Swiss women Serena Williams, seeking her 24th Slam title to match,” he said. “I was battling with that and match Margaret Court’s all-time record, in the NEW YORK: Gael Monfils said he wouldn’t with my opponent. So it was tough. I just com- NEW YORK: No Swiss woman has won a other semi-final. Bencic, seeded 13th, has bat- dwell on his agonizing US Open quarter-final peted as much I could.” Grand Slam singles title since Martina Hingis tled back from 2017 left wrist surgery and loss to Matteo Berrettini on Wednesday that Yannick Noah remains the last Frenchman captured the 1999 Australian Open, but Be- other injuries that slowed her career for most prolonged France’s 36-year wait for a men’s to capture a Grand Slam singles title, at the linda Bencic hopes to end that two-decade of two seasons, winning her third WTA title in Grand Slam singles champion. The 33-year-old 1983 French Open. The last Frenchman to tri- drought at the US Open. And with Swiss leg- February at Dubai. “She likes to be very ag- Monfils saved four match points against Italian umph in New York was Henri Cochet at the US end Roger Federer and his three-time Grand gressive,” Andreescu said. “She has a very 24th seed Berrettini before losing 3-6, 6-3, 6- Championships in 1928 — 40 years before the Slam-winning countryman Stan Wawrinka good serve. She moves pretty well, too.” 2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in an entertaining four-hour Open era. Monfils savored his time in the US ousted in the men’s quarter-finals, Bencic has battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Open spotlight and hopes to stick around a lit- extra motivation entering Thursday’s semi-fi- ‘Step by step’ Monfils fell short in his bid to reach a sec- tle longer to support girlfriend Elina Svitolina, nals at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The is Bencic’s deepest Slam run, surpass- ond US Open semi-final, having also missed who plays Serena Williams on Thursday for a “This is not a good thing. I’m not happy ing her 2014 US Open debut last-eight ap- out in 2014 after squandering two match place in the women’s final. about this actually,” Bencic said of the Fed- pearance, but it comes after having had to points in the last eight against Roger Federer. “I’m not a sore loser. I give it all today. I erer and Wawrinka losses. “I’m kind of sur- battle adversity. “It’s there like a dream always. “I had tough ones in my career like that. Actu- served bad, but I gave my heart. The crowd prised, like I think everyone is. “It would be Even when you are playing bad, you want to ally I have a tough one here in match point was amazing. They pushed me. They helped really nice if the boys could also make it to come back to this feeling. I think that’s the mo- with Roger. I know how to bounce back,” me. It was fun. It was exactly what I play for,” semi-finals but I’m happy I can kind of do it tivation enough to keep going,” Bencic said. Monfils said. “Actually I played very good after Monfils said. “I wish I could win, but I love for them and don’t let them down.” This year’s “For sure being number one in the world or that quarter that I lost in 2014 with Roger. I’ve those matches no matter what. I’m proud of showdown at Flushing Meadows is the 83rd winning a Grand Slam is always a dream. But I got to take the positive of this almost two myself, and, you know, I will be happy, I will Slam since Hingis won the last of her five think it’s still a long way to that.