A day behind schedule, the US Open men's singles semi-finals once again sees Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic poised for glory.
A day behind schedule and destined for a second straight Monday finish, the US Open men's singles semi-finals once again sees Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic poised for glory.
The only change to last year is that Britain's Andy Murray, seeded second this year, fell in the fourth round and Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro, the sixth seed, takes his place up against Nadal.
Federer and Djokovic both reached the last four on Wednesday and have been resting for three days while Del Potro made it through on Thursday before the rain finally hit Flushing Meadows and made a mess of Nadal's match against Fernando Gonzalez of Chile.
What all that will mean for today's semi-finals remains to be seen although Nadal, who finished off Gonzalez in double-quick time 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/2), 6-0 when play resumed nearly 48 hours later on yesterday, insists that he will not be handicapped by the vageries of the scheduling.
"For me, the match of today wasn't important physically. It doesn't matter to play two days in a row. The condition for me will be the same as for the four (semi-finalists)," he said.
"I'm more fresh than last year, 100 per cent sure. Mentally last year I was totally destroyed. Mentally this year I am perfect."
Nadal, seeking to become just the seventh man to complete the career Grand Slam and match Federer who achived the feat at the French Open in June, has been struggling with an abdominal strain picked up in the buildup tournaments to Flushing Meadows.
He has already withdrawn from Spain's Davis Cup semi-final against Israel and admits he will not be 100 per cent fit for the rest of the tournament, a big handicap at this level, although he was coy over how serious the injury was.
"I have only a little problem in the abdominal. That's it," he said.
Nadal has a 4-2 winning record over Del Potro but the Argentinian, who is bidding to become the first South American to win the US Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977, has won their last two meetings, both this year.
The six-times Grand Slam winner, who is certain of regaining from Murray the world No 2 ranking, said that Del Potro had become a very complete player over the last two years.
"In the past, he didn't serve like he is doing right now. He has an unbelievable serve right now. And from the baseline, he is very solid. He don't have mistakes," Nadal said.
"If his movement is not 100 per cent perfect, he is very long and he arrives to every play."
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