World No. 1 and top seed Rafael Nadal bounced back from a one-set deficit en route to a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 win over Juan Martin del Potro in the semifinal of the US Open Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. With the win, Nadal reached the final of the Grand Slam event for the fourth time in his career, giving him a chance to win a third trophy at Flushing Meadows. "It's been an amazing season of course after a couple years with some troubles, injuries, tough moments," said Nadal, who improved to 15-0 in Grand Slam semifinals after losing to del Potro in the last four of the US Open in 2009.
Del Potro looked headed for another upset after taking the opening set, but Nadal got his game going in the next three sets, hitting 45 winners with just 20 unforced errors, en route to victory in two hours and 30 minutes.
Nadal favorite to win 16th major crown
Nadal is the heavy favorite to win his 16th major crown when he takes on No. 28 Kevin Anderson in the final. Anderson made it to his first Grand Slam final after beating No. 12 Pablo Carreno Busta, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4, in the first semifinal pairing. While he’s 4-0 against Anderson in their head-to-head showdown, Nadal said he’s expecting a tough match against the South African whom he has known since they were both 12 years old. “He's a huge player with unbelievable serve, and he plays so well in this kind of surfaces.
It's great to see him in final in one of the most important events of the year,” said Nadal, who has made it to the finals of three major tournaments this season. He won his 15th Grand Slam title and 10th French Open crown in May but lost to Roger Federer in the Australian Open final.
Anderson aims for first Grand Slam crown
The 6-foot-8 Anderson became the first South African to reach the final of the US Open since Cliff Drysdale did it in 1965 at the US Championships in 1965. He is also the first South African in a Grand Slam final since Kevin Curren reached the 1984 Australian Open final. If he beats Nadal, Anderson will become the first South African since Johan Kriek in 1981 to win a major title.
Anderson started the season at No. 80 in the ATP Rankings after he suffered several injuries in 2016. At No. 28, Anderson was the lowest-ranked man into a US Open final since the ATP Rankings began in 1973. Anderson said he wants to inspire the youth to go out there and give their best despite the odds. After having to miss the Australian Open due to a hip injury, Anderson reached the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon this year, boosting his ranking to No. 32 in the world.
