Nadal ‘in good shape’ after scrappy win
http://www.hrlnews.com/2019/09/nadal-in-good-shape-after-scrappy-win.html
Rafael Nadal said he felt “in good shape” after advancing to the
semi-finals of the US Open with a battling 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 win over
Argentine 20th seed Diego Schwartzman.
Second seed Nadal, a three-time champion in New York, will play
Italy’s Matteo Berrettini for a berth in the final after the 18-time
Grand Slam winner overcame a gritty performance from the 5ft 7in (1.70m)
Schwartzman.
The Spaniard needed the best part of three hours to record an eighth
straight win over two-time US Open quarter-finalist Schwartzman in a
match that finished early Thursday morning.
He received treatment to his left forearm early in the third set but
swiftly allayed any injury fears, after a knee injury forced him to
retire during last year’s semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro.
“I’m feeling good. Today was a very humid day, very heavy day. I had
some cramps at the end of the second and first five games, six games of
the third. And then I take some salt, that’s all, and then was over,” Nadal said.
“The body is in good shape, I think. No big problems. Just of course
now a little bit tired, long day, 1:30 (a.m.). Need to go to sleep. But I
really believe that I’m going to be in good shape.”
Nadal rolled through the first three rounds untested, a run that
included a second-round walkover, but the 33-year-old feels stiffer
competition in his past two matches — against Marin Cilic and
Schwartzman — has left him primed for another shot at the US Open title.
“Today I make a step forward, in my opinion. That match gives me
confidence. Two matches in a row against two tough opponents. That’s a
moment to increase a little bit more the level, and I really believe
that I can do it,” Nadal said.
The win over Schwartzman sent Nadal through to a 33rd Grand Slam
semi-final — third-most in history behind Roger Federer (45) and Novak
Djokovic (36) — as he reached the last four in New York for the eighth
time.
Nadal is the only former major champion left in the men’s field
following the elimination of Federer and Djokovic, leaving him as the
clear frontrunner in his pursuit of a 19th major title.
“I just won a very important match for me, and it is the moment to
enjoy this victory. Tomorrow afternoon I’m going to start to think about
what’s the plan for after tomorrow,” he said.
“Today is the moment to enjoy that feeling of being in semi-finals of a Grand Slam again.
“I achieved the four semi-finals of the four Grand Slams this year, and that’s a lot. Very, very happy about that.”