Tired del Potro confident he can beat Nadal
Juan Martin del Potro admitted that he will not be physically 100 per cent fit to face world No. 1 Rafael Nadal in their potentially blockbuster US Open semi-final tomorrow morning (Singapore time).
The 28-year-old Argentinian has been plagued by injuries since he won his only Grand Slam title in New York in 2009, beating Roger Federer in the final and Nadal in the semi-finals.
He gatecrashed the tournament again yesterday morning when he defeated Federer in a gripping quarter-final 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (10/8), 6-4 to reach his fourth Grand Slam semi-final.
"Against Rafa, it will be a much harder match. I am not in good condition," said del Potro, who had needed five exhausting sets and saved two match-points to beat Dominic Thiem in the fourth round.
"But it's a semi-final, so anything can happen.
"I have to be ready to face Rafa in my favourite tournament.
"I will try to exploit the atmosphere and, if I play my best, I can be a danger to him."
WINNING STREAK
Del Potro's 2009 US Open final five-set win ended Federer's five-year reign as champion and his 40-match winning streak.
He had also crushed Nadal in straight sets in the semi-finals, losing just six games.
He was just 20 at the time and had the world at his feet.
However, he went on to undergo four wrist surgeries, missed 10 Grand Slams and, at one stage last year, his world ranking slumped to 1,045th.
That left him even contemplating retirement before a run to the Olympic final in Rio de Janeiro last year - beating Nadal in the semi-finals - helped reinvigorate his passion for the sport.
Despite his doubts, he is used to playing exhausting semi-final epics - at Wimbledon in 2013, he lost to Novak Djokovic in 4hr 43min, the longest Slam semi-final ever played.
His Roland Garros semi-final defeat by Federer in 2009 was also a five-setter.
"Against Rafa, he is a lefty so he will come after my forehand," added del Potro.
Nadal will take an 8-5 record over del Potro into the semi-final, where the winner will face either Kevin Anderson or Pablo Carreno Busta for the title.
"Juan Martin is a top player. When he's playing well, it's difficult to stop him. Probably the forehand is maybe the fastest on the Tour," said Nadal, who is chasing his second Major of the year to add to his French Open crown. - AFP
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