US Open Final: Expect a long match in the side markets

Reaching a second consecutive Grand Slam final suggests the 13-times major champion is almost back to his best, though he will need to be even more clinical against Del Potro, who has only dropped one set in six matches in NY.

The Argentine will face either Novak Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 victor or Japan’s Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final.

“I hate to retire, but, to stay one more set out there playing like this, it would be too much for me”, Nadal said.

“I personally like him very much, not just as a player but as a person. It’s about not having the chance to fight for it”, Nadal, who retired in his Australian Open quarter-final against Marin Cilic with a torn inner hip muscle, added. Djokovic also has won nine straight major semifinals and will play his 23rd final on Sunday – the third most in men’s tennis history behind Roger Federer (30) and Rafael Nadal (24).

Nadal was a step slow in the second set, falling, 6-2, before retiring due to tendinitis in his right knee.

On the other hand, Djokovic beat Nishikori to reach the final. I think I’ve played more than 10 semifinals here.

Djokovic said: “Seeing the consistency of the results I’ve had here, probably it has been my most successful Grand Slam”. The Argentine was leading 7-6 (3), 6-2 when he got a hug from Nadal and passage to his second Grand Slam final.

Where can I get tickets for Kei Nishikori vs Novak Djokovic? .

Given that I’ve already sided heavily with Del Potro pre-tournament, I won’t be looking to increase my exposure here, but I wouldn’t discourage anyone from supporting him to win 3-2 at around [9.00]: he’s already beaten Nadal and Federer on the hard courts this year and can complete his triumvirate scalping here. Predictably, del Potro collapsed after taking the first set and lost in four to Nadal.

“I was putting constantly pressure on him, trying to move him around the court, take away the rhythm from him, not give him the same look always”.

As everybody knows, this is my favorite tournament since I’m kid.

And on match point, Djokovic sealed the win with a breathtaking backhand victor down the line on the full stretch.

“It means a lot to me, ” del Potro said.

Nadal has reached four Grand Slam finals in the last two years – winning the US Open in 2017 and back-to-back French Open titles in 2017 and 2018. A lot of people in this room, including me, didn’t think I would be at this level at this age. But if there is one player who deserves a slightly less strenuous path to a Grand Slam final, it is del Potro.

Djokovic missed last year’s tournament owing to an elbow injury. Nadal has 17, including three at the U.S. Open, and Djokovic could tie Pete Sampras for third all-time with 14 if he wins his third in Flushing Meadows. He broke Nadal in his very first service game, but was broken right back after fudging three balls into the net.

After Del Potro won the set, Nadal took off his headband, sat down and pulled off his wristbands while a trainer spoke to him. “I got too much energy from the crowd”.

It was in 2015, the year of his fourth wrist operation, that Juan Martin del Potro was pretty sure he’d had enough.