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Semi-finals set at US Open as Millman's run comes to an end

Roar Guru
6th September, 2018
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Roar Guru
6th September, 2018
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Just four players remain in each of the men’s and women’s draws at the US Open with title favourites Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro and Serena Williams among those still standing.

First, let’s recap what happened in the quarter-finals.

In one of the matches of the tournament, if not the Grand Slam year, Nadal overcame the embarrassment of a first-set bagel to edge out Dominic Thiem in five sets, prevailing in a final set tiebreaker to advance to his seventh semi-final in New York.

Thiem appeared to be a man on a mission as he sought to avenge his straight-sets defeat to the Spaniard in the French Open final in June, storming through the first set before Nadal hit back to take the next two sets.

In their first meeting away from a clay court, Thiem then took the fourth in a tiebreak to force a one-set shootout.

The final set proved to be very tense with neither player giving an inch. Eventually, a tiebreak would be decided to settle the matter, and it ended in Nadal prevailing after nearly five hours, with play finishing just after 2:00 am local time.

The Spaniard will now play Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-final for the second straight year and for the fourth time in the past five Grand Slam tournaments, having also met in the semi-final at Roland Garros and the quarter-final at Wimbledon earlier this year.

Del Potro was also engaged in a tough affair in his quarter-final, coming from a set down to defeat John Isner and complete yet another miserable year for American men at the Majors.

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It has now been 15 years since an American man last won a Major title when Andy Roddick defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero to claim his only Grand Slam title at the 2003 US Open.

Ironically, it was del Potro who sent him into retirement with a four-set win at Flushing Meadows in 2012.

Overnight, Kei Nishikori avenged his loss to Marin Cilic in the 2014 final, prevailing in five sets, while Djokovic was made to sweat in a straight-sets victory over John Millman in the late night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The Serb’s win didn’t come easy, as the form Millman showed in his upset win over Roger Federer was enough to frustrate the 31-year-old despite the straight-sets scoreline.

John Millman celebrates during his victory over Roger Federer at the 2018 US Open.

John Millman. (Photo: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Still, the 13-times Grand Slam champion progressed to his eleventh US Open semi-final, where he will next face Nishikori.

If Djokovic and Nadal both win their semi-final matches, then they will set up a fourth championship showdown at Flushing Meadows. However, they do face opponents that have beaten them in New York, with del Potro hammering Nadal in the 2009 semi-final (though Nadal won their last meeting at the US Open) and Nishikori upsetting Djokovic in the 2014 semi-final.

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The women’s semis get underway this morning, with Serena Williams and Madison Keys highly favoured to make it an all-American championship affair at Flushing Meadows for the second consecutive year.

The latest obstacle to Williams and a record-equalling 24th Major title (and record seventh at the US Open) comes in the form of Latvia’s Anastasija Sevastova, whose love affair with New York continued when she upset defending champion Sloane Stephens in straight sets in the quarter-finals.

It is expected that Serena will advance to yet another Grand Slam final as her comeback from maternity leave continues to gather momentum, the American having reached the fourth round at Roland Garros and the final of Wimbledon.

The 36-year-old was at her ruthless best against Karolina Pliskova, winning in straight sets as she avenged her 2016 semi-final loss against the Czech, a result which saw her surrender the world number one ranking two years ago.

The other semi will see 14th seed Madison Keys come up against rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka, who put an end to the run of Lesia Tsurenko with a straight-forward 6-1, 6-1 victory.

The 23-year-old overcame a tight first set before prevailing over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro to reach her second Grand Slam semi-final this year.

The Rock Island native is the highest player remaining in the draw and a victory over Osaka would put her into a second consecutive US Open final where one of her childhood idols, Serena Williams, is likely to wait.

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Keys and Osaka have met twice previously, with both meetings coming on both sides of the United States (2016 US Open and Indian Wells 2017, with Keys winning both times).

If Keys does end up meeting (and beating) Williams in the championship match, it would well and truly mark the changing of the guard in women’s tennis.

Matches to watch on Day 10
Arthur Ashe Stadium
Night session – play starts at 7:00pm (9:00am AEST)
[17] Serena Williams (USA) vs [19] Anastasija Sevastova (LAT)
[14] Madison Keys (USA) vs [20] Naomi Osaka (JPN)

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