Juan Martin Del Potro beats, crushes to be precise, Rafael Nadal in US Open 2009 men semi final, the Post reports
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.
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[...] Had Rafael Nadal not lost in semi-final to Del Potro, the Federer – Nadal meet-up in the US Open 2009 final would have been perfect. So, this time, Federer should be “alone” in the final. Djokovic as he admits was not mentally as strong enough to beat Federer in the semifinal, via NYT: Roger Federer swept past Novak Djokovic, 7-6 (3), 7-5, 7-5, on Sunday at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the finals of the United States Open, a tournament he has won five straight times. [...]
He’s a good player.. No wonder he can beat rafael nadal