Nadal Ousted by del Potro
FLUSHING MEADOWS, N.Y., Sept. 13 -- One day after its marquee player, Serena Williams, was bounced from the U.S. Open after a tirade against a linesperson, the tournament lost the prospect of the Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer final that so many fans wanted to see.
Nadal fell short Sunday in his attempt to reach the final of the only major title that eludes him, getting soundly thrashed by Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
Federer, the heavy favorite to win his sixth consecutive U.S. Open title and extend his record of 15 majors, was due to meet fourth-seeded Novak Djokovic at 4 p.m. Sunday for the other spot in Monday's men's final.
Nadal, who had reclaimed his No. 2 world ranking by reaching the semifinals of the season's major (combined with Andy Murray's fourth-round loss), was no match for the 6-feet-6 Argentine.
While Nadal, 23, was clearly limited by an abdominal strain he suffered last month, del Potro routed him so convincingly, in every aspect of the game, that it's difficult to argue that the outcome would have differed had Nadal been fully fit.
Del Potro, 20, apologized to fans immediately afterward for spoiling a Nadal-Federer final. He thanked the crowd for its support and praised his opponent, saying, "Rafa is a great player. He can run for five hours, six hours, and I'm not very strong."
And he struggled for words to express his elation over reaching the final of the tournament he loves more than any other.
"I think this is the best moment of my life," said del Potro, a two-time Legg Mason champion who is ranked sixth in the world. "I'm very close to my dream: To win this tournament."
Not long ago, del Potro was a gangly, somewhat awkward work-in-progress. He had tremendous reach given his height, but he didn't know how to exploit that reach on his service motion. He wasn't particularly fit, either, wearing down as matches ground on.
Not so today.
Del Potro pounded groundstrokes with a pace even the muscular Nadal couldn't handle. He dissected Nadal's first and second serves. And he never eased up until Nadal's final forehand passing shot sailed well beyond the baseline to end the match.
While del Potro's serve was a key weapon, Nadal's was little more than a stroke to set games in motion.
Afterward, Nadal alluded to a strained right abdominal injury, but he took care to acknowledge del Potro's superior play.
"To compete with this player is very difficult," Nadal said. "He is serving well and playing unbelievable."
Also Sunday, the USTA continued its investigation into the ugly incident that unfolded on match point during Williams' semifinal against Kim Clijsters.
It was triggered by a dubious foot-fault called on Williams, with Clijsters two points from victory. The penalty cost Williams the point, bringing it to match point. Williams erupted at the lineswoman, walking toward her and shaking the ball in her face, spewing vulgarities and threatening to shove the ball down her throat.
She was cited with a code violation -- her second of the match -- which handed the victory to Clijsters, 6-4, 7-5. Clijsters will meet ninth-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the finals Sunday at 9 p.m.
Williams has yet to apologize, and tennis officials were reviewing the incident Sunday with a fine and possible suspension in mind.
Source: Washington Post
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