NEW YORK CITY, USA (Reuters) — Rafael Nadal raced into the United States Open semifinals on Wednesday (September 6) with a one hour 37 minute 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Russian teenager Andrey Rublev.
The lopsided victory cleared the path for a possible showdown with rival Roger Federer.
Amazingly the two tennis greats have never played each other in Flushing Meadow.
Federer plays 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro on Wednesday evening.
It was the result that tennis fans had been wishing for as it set up a potential mouth-watering first-ever U.S. Open meeting between Nadal and the 19-times grand slam champion Swiss.
One of the great rivalries in all of sport, Federer and Nadal, who have won seven U.S. Open titles between them, have clashed 37 times over the years but never at the U.S. Open.
Federer and Nadal have been within one match of a New York meeting five times before only to have one or both lose and there is one more hurdle to be cleared again with the Swiss needing to get past towering Argentine Juan Martin del Potro later on Wednesday.
Nadal drew loud laughter after being asked “What do you admire most about Roger on court and what do admire most about him as a man off the court?”
Nadal quipped “I don’t want to look like I am going to be his boyfriend” before describing his longtime rival in glowing terms.
