This wasn’t part of the script. A perfect year for Tennis fans, one that brought back memories from the past, and while we revelled in those bouts of nostalgia, we longed for something new at the US Open, a Federer-Nadal match up, which had somehow found a way to elude the tennis fraternity for all these years.
Rafa Nadal got the job done in the morning, beating Rublev in convincing fashion and it was upto Federer, to overcome his 2009 US Open demons and beat Del Potro, to set up what every tennis fan all over the world was hoping for(except Del Potro and his fans), a Federer-Nadal semi final.
But the ‘affable’ man of Tennis, Juan Martin Del Potro was trying to script his own story, a story that comprised of struggle, agony, hard work and jubilation.
Having beaten Federer in the 2009 US Open final, Juan Martin was ready to unleash himself on the tennis circuit, ready to up his game and ready to elevate himself amongst the tennis elite. But a recurring wrist injury meant that he couldn’t take his career to the next level, having to cope with stop-starts all through, and thus never really being able to cement his place amongst the best in the tennis world.
But he kept knocking on the door, trying to break through, trying to make a mark on the tennis world once again.
The match against Thiem showed his resilience. Down and out in the first two sets, it seemed as if Del Potro could once again depart after showing a lot of promise, but he hung in there, the fighter that he is, rallied hard and came back from two sets down to set up a repeat of the 2009 US Open final against Federer.
And today was all about Del Potro.
He kept Federer on his heels, unleashed his monster forehand all through and jumped on all of Federer’s missed opportunities.
Federer’s game was more or less there today, but what was missing was his killer instinct, something that has helped him to so many titles over the years.
Set points in the third set for Federer, and it felt like he would get his revenge on Del Potro tonight, but he just couldn’t close it out, missing his opportunities on the net(after using the chip return) repeatedly.
De Potro was finally able to serve it out in the 4th, winning it 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(10-8), 6-4.
Here is how twitter reacted:
Me returning from a long day at work and then finding out that Del Potro beat Federer #USOpen pic.twitter.com/G2GNLXS7b8
— LAYUMI (@LAYUMI12) September 7, 2017
I hate to see Roger Federer lose–it hurts me physically–but God almighty, del Porto played out of his gourd. The gentle giant. Such heart.
— ANNE LAMOTT (@ANNELAMOTT) September 7, 2017
Congratulations Del Potro for your victory over Federer … and for breaking out of Shawshank. pic.twitter.com/onWaNqIZzl
— Sri Raman (@ThtsWhatSriSaid) September 7, 2017
"I knew going in I'm not in a safe place", Federer approaching this QF, knew his tennis wasn't where it was at e.g. AO or Wimbledon.
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) September 7, 2017
"He was better today, especially on the big points."—Roger Federer
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) September 7, 2017
"(JMDP)'ll have a better chance to beat Rafa in the SFs (than me)", Federer, who says his tennis was not good enough to win this tournament.
— René Denfeld (@Renestance) September 7, 2017
Federer: "I knew going into the tournament I wasn't in a safe place. I might have to depend on my opponent. And I don't like that feeling."
— Eleanor Crooks (@EleanorcrooksPA) September 7, 2017
Federer's defeat means that Spain is guaranteed to have the No. 1 ranked woman AND man in the world on Monday: Muguruza and Nadal
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 7, 2017
Roger Federer on if he was looking ahead to a semifinal match against Rafael Nadal: "I wasn't thinking of it. You were."
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/weronikabeltran/status/905643869756198913
Juan Martín del Potro beats Roger Federer to face Rafael Nadal in the semis.
He's 1 of only 2 men to beat Federer & Nadal in the same major pic.twitter.com/nFDhpxpBBl
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 7, 2017
https://twitter.com/ourmaninatl/status/905644572943855616
Different Year
Different Round
SAME Result@delpotrojuan battles past Federer for a place in #USOpen Semifinals! pic.twitter.com/2dpIJKXZZj— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 7, 2017
"Juan Martin deserves it more. I have no place in the semis."—Roger Federer. Says he doesn't think his game was good enough to win #USOpen
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) September 7, 2017
Intrigued to see how much Federer reveals about his ongoing back struggles now that his #USOpen is over…
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 7, 2017
when federer and nadal are finally going to play in the us open pic.twitter.com/XkCMoKnRmC
— Stanley Kay (@citizen_kay) September 7, 2017
When you're mad there'll never be a Nadal/Federer US Open match but you're still happy for Del Potro. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/VDR6AHDqq5
— DJ Wilson Stan Acct (@mbcuda) September 7, 2017
New York misses out on Federer v Nadal by one match for the 6th time – 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2017.
— Piers Newbery (@piersnewbery) September 7, 2017
Federer played tactically his worst match of 2017 but it's what happens to him when he's not confident about his A game.
— Rossana Capobianco (@Rossana_Capo) September 7, 2017
Well that was completely heartbreaking #USOpen #Federer pic.twitter.com/F12uSQbpWE
— Allison (@ald926) September 7, 2017
This will be the year in which we'll finally get a Federer-Nadal match at the USO
Del Potro: pic.twitter.com/cD2snduvKd— JP #14 (@Shapornvalov) September 7, 2017
The dream is over, but thank #Federer there was a dream. 2017 was more than fairytale. And if he had to lose, couldn't be to a better guy.
— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) September 7, 2017
