US Open 2017: Juan Martin del Potro to face Roger Federer in last eight
Last updated on .From the section Tennis
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| Venue: Flushing Meadows, New York Dates: 28 Aug-10 Sept |
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Juan Martin del Potro came back from two sets down and saved two match points to beat sixth seed Dominic Thiem in a raucous US Open classic.
The 24th seed, cheered on by a large Argentine contingent on the Grandstand court, won 1-6 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.
Despite feeling ill and requiring treatment, he came through in three hours and 35 minutes to set up a quarter-final against Roger Federer.
The Swiss third seed beat Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2 7-5.
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Federer, 36, struggled with a back injury in the build-up to the tournament and left the court after the second set for a medical timeout.
"I just needed a bit of a rub on my back. Or my… bottom," he said on court afterwards.
He later added: "I just felt something, sort of my muscle being tight at the back. Sort of my quad, I guess.
"I just didn't want Philipp to wait. It was more precaution. It's all good. No problems there. I'm not worried about it. I'm sorry I had to do it."
Federer upstaged by Del Potro 'epic'
The five-time champion produced another impressive performance, but for once the spotlight was elsewhere as Del Potro's comeback gripped Flushing Meadows.
The noise from the 8,000-seater Grandstand court outstripped that from the 24,000 spectators on Arthur Ashe Stadium as Del Potro saved two match points with thumping aces, on his way to setting up a rematch of the 2009 final he won against Federer.
"I played one of the epic matches of my career here at the US Open, which is my favourite tournament, in front of a great crowd," the Argentine said.
"I was thinking to retire in the middle of second set because I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move well, and Dominic was dominating the match so easy."
The 28-year-old was broken in the first game and seemed to be struggling with his eyesight.
Having lost the first set in 36 minutes, and after receiving medical treatment, the former champion trailed 6-1 3-0 and finally hit his first winner in the 12th game, but then wasted three break point opportunities.
The third set was far more competitive, as Del Potro appeared to be buoyed by medication and a partisan crowd. He broke Thiem in the second game and raced clear to take the set.
The 24th seed saved two match points in the fourth with aces and the crowd went wild when Del Potro won the resulting tie-break to take it to a decider.
There was more drama when Del Potro failed to convert three break points while 3-2, 0-40 up in the fifth, but an hour after facing match points, the Argentine completed the unlikely comeback as Thiem served a double fault.
After needing five sets to win his first two matches in New York, Federer made it back-to-back three-set wins.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion did not face a single break point over the course of one hour and 50 minutes.
He took control in the seventh game with the first of four breaks, dominating the second set and clinching victory in game 12 of the third as a tie-break loomed.
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Without all of his injuries he would consistently have been in the top 5 players in the world.
Always comes across as a top bloke, as well.
Had some of his best years blighted by injury, so would love to see him win a slam or two now.
Class act.
I must say I don't like all this American razzmatazz between games with blaring music its so American and a far cry from the more civilised surroundings of Wimbledon.
Shows you should never give up.
Utterly ridiculous comment to make about a player who has played on the tour for the best part of 20 years and never retired from a match. Direct those kind of comments towards someone like Kyrgios who has the trainer on to treat his shoulder whilst serving at 130mph and is so severely troubled that he plays doubles the following day
I'd like him to win the tournament but there is a lot of hard matches on his side to get through.
How could Federer receive treatment for an injury that he brought into the match, when at Wimbledon (vs Querrey), Murray couldn't be treated for his hip injury as it was an existing injury?
Del Potro is, at his injury free level, part of the elite group of Fed, Nov, Rafael and Andy. Hats off to a raucous match Dominic & Del. 2017 Champ..? Rafl!
Think this could work 1 of 2 ways for him.
I)llness permitting it could inspire him to dig even deeper into his resources and at least give Federer a competitive match. 2). Or he will be emotionally and physically drained and Federer will dismiss him in double quick time.
Hoping for the former but fearing the tank will be empty and it will be the latter.
Do you actually watch tennis? 19 year old Rublev in quarters, superb performance from 18 year old Shapavolov, 19 year old Tiafoe taking Federer to 5 sets, 20 year old Zverev has just won Cinci, 24 year old Thiem reached a Slam final in 2017 and beat Nadal and Djokovic on clay
Have the feeling though that Fed will be happier playing him than Thiem