Fearsome foursome

Written by: Staff on 10th September 2010

Fearsome foursome |

Matches of the day – men’s semi-finals

Arthur Ashe Stadium

Rafael Nadal versus Mikhail Youzhny

The smiling Russian might have knocked a younger, less accomplished Nadal out of the 2006 US Open but such has been Spaniard’s rate of achievement since then that it might as well have happened in a different century. It will certainly take a huge dollop of delusion for Youzhny to think it will help him against Nadal circa. 2010. That is not to say that this will be a cakewalk for the world No.1 as Youzhny can be a dangerous and wily opponent with a racket-bag full of eye-catching winners. He will need every one to have any chance, even if Nadal has never previously got past the semi-finals of a tournament which must be regarded as his bogey event. This Spaniard was in irresistible form against Fernando Verdasco, as he has been all tournament, and is clearly reaping the benefit of a faster serve which is well-suited to the surface here. Nadal in four sets.

Roger Federer versus Novak Djokovic

From starting the tournament against compatriot Viktor Troicki looking like a man in need of an intravenous fluid drip and a flight home, Djokovic has gone from strength the strength at this US Open. It would have been interesting to see how well he would have fared had the raging heat of the first week – which so nearly proved his undoing against Troicki – had lingered a little longer, but that we will never know. What we are certain of, however, is that Federer has an extraordinary record at the US Open (five titles in six finals) and has owned the Serbian in all three of their previous matches at Flushing Meadows, including the 2007 final. Nothing will deceive you like a set of pre-match statistics but even the most optimistic Djokovic fan would have to agree that anything other than a win for Federer – probably in straight sets – would be a huge surprise.

Topics: Arthur Ashe, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Bogey, Cakewalk, Compatriot, Delusion, Dollop, Drip, Fearsome Foursome, Fernando Verdasco, Flight Home, Intravenous Fluid, Man In Need, Mikhail Youzhny, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Semi Finals, Straight Sets, Undoing