2017 US Open Semifinals: Nadal vs. Del Potro

[rafanoy1992]

Nadal leads the H2H match-up 8-5 but Delpo has won the last 2 matches including the epic semifinal match last year in the Olympics. In addition, Delpo leads the 5-3 in hard-court meetings.

Here's another interesting fact: Nadal has won his last 14 semi-finals matches. The last time he lost a Slam semifinal match was in 2009 against Delpo at the US Open.

I pick Nadal in four tight sets...

However, Delpo NEEDS to win the 1st set just like he did against Federer or else Nadal might run away with it.

 

[Denis]

The final this year is on Friday.

I voted for JMDP in four, just because I hope it will happen.

 

[rafanoy1992]

The final this year is on Friday.

I voted for JMDP in four, just because I hope it will happen.

I would not be terribly surprise if Delpo beats Nadal on Friday...however, I have to go with my guy on this one.

I will tell you this: Nadal will look for Delpo's backhand all night long. I am actually surprised that Federer did not exploit Delpo's backhand throughout the match.

 

[isabelle]

The final this year is on Friday.

I voted for JMDP in four, just because I hope it will happen.

same for me, I'ld be so happy to see Juanito in final again

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

Delpo's bachand in the last two matches was not really a vulnerability. But now he has to deal with Rafa's forehand coming at it time after time. If he serves like he did against Roger and control the rest of the point with his forehand, he will have a chance . I think his confidence must be huge right now , considering he was about to quit after two sets against Thiem. Someone wins in 4 . I hope it is Delpo.

 

[mrzz]

All 2017 have shown that Nadal is still vulnerable to players who can hit hard on HC and del Potro is the hardest hitter out there. The Argentinians (who were surprisingly quiet at the quarters) will sing in three sets.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

All 2017 have shown that Nadal is still vulnerable to players who can hit hard on HC and del Potro is the hardest hitter out there. The Argentinians (who were surprisingly quiet at the quarters) will sing in three sets.

Well, as Rafa does not have an abdominal tear, I would give him one set.

 

[imjimmy]

The key thing in the Delpo-Nadal match, strangely, might be Delpo's serve. Perennially thought as someone who ought to serve bigger given his height, I thought Delpo served amazing vs Fed. He was 84% on first serves overall and 91% of first serve pts won in the final set. That is stunning against Federer. Keep in mind that Federer's ROS is generally better than Nadal's.

So if Delpo serves lights out and does the 1-2 punch with his forehand, he will be hard to stop. Nadal would have to return way better and make sure he absolutely makes Delpo pay everytime Delpo slices the ball on the backhand.

I haven't generally been impressed by Nadal's forehand this tournament ( really all summer after Wimbledon). He will need to make sure his cross court forehand is firing and placed deep and away from the middle of the court. He has to be able to spread the court and move Delpo around. Any short balls, Delpo will pulverize them.

Overall, Rafa would have to play his best match in this tournament to win. He would need to cut down on the UFEs and recover some of the form he showed on clay and grass this year. Otherwise Delpo might get another Fedal scalp in one tournament. There is a reason Fed ( who has a great h2h against Delpo ) lost.

 

[Moxie]

Well, as Rafa does not have an abdominal tear, I would give him one set.

I wouldn't revisit that 2009 match, as they are both very different players now. But del Potro can still hit through Nadal, give the chance. Obviously, the match is on Rafa's racquet and head.

 

[britbox]

I picked Nadal but uhming and ahhing about it now. Wondering if his relatively easy path to the semis, might just have been too easy and could work against him.

 

[mrzz]

Obviously, the match is on Rafa's racquet and head.

He wiil nerd to put his raqcuet on the ball first...

 

[mrzz]

Obviously, the match is on Rafa's racquet and head.

He wiil nerd to put his raqcuet on the ball first...

 

[DarthFed]

Nadal will win this easy. I know everyone loves the big guy and feels sorry for what's happened with his injury history but the cold hard truth is that he isn't that good anymore. In the past 8 years this is his 2nd slam semi. He's about on par with Berdych now though he does move better. Nadal won't hit to the forehand non stop like Federer did, and the backhand won't be munching on cream puff approach shots either. I'd be surprised if Nadal doesn't win in 4 or less.

 

[rafanoy1992]

Nadal will win this easy. I know everyone loves the big guy and feels sorry for what's happened with his injury history but the cold hard truth is that he isn't that good anymore. In the past 8 years this is his 2nd slam semi. He's about on par with Berdych now though he does move better. Nadal won't hit to the forehand non stop like Federer did, and the backhand won't be munching on cream puff approach shots either. I'd be surprised if Nadal doesn't win in 4 or less.

I appreciate your brutal honesty, DarthFed.

I know you hate Nadal and you are disgusted about Fed's loss about I am actually please you pick Nadal to win this match.

PS: Don't worry, I would not be this "sweet" lol

 

[rafanoy1992]

Other than the usual techniques that needs to be executed throughout the match, I have a gut feeling whomever wins the first set will probably the match.

That is why I put if Delpo does not win the 1st set, then his chances of winning the match goes down. He definitely can still win match even if he loses the first set, but he needs to go consume a lot of energy in order to achieve the feat.

The one thing he was able to do well in the Federer match is he was able to conserve his energy. Now, Federer helped him a little bit with his patch play of course. Another important thing is that Delpo was not really down in the match. Yes, he faced 4 set points and he saved them all but you could feel that he wasn't really behind Federer.

Now, the question is what will happen if he does get behind against Nadal? How he will react mentally and physically?

Overall, it should be a close match between two slam champions and I would not be surprised if either one of them wins.

 

[DarthFed]

I appreciate your brutal honesty, DarthFed.

I know you hate Nadal and you are disgusted about Fed's loss about I am actually please you pick Nadal to win this match.

PS: Don't worry, I would not be this "sweet" lol

I know most won't believe it but I'm only disgusted by his decision to play Montreal with no practice. It was a mixture of arrogance and 100% taking his eyes off the big picture. Maybe it wouldn't have mattered and he'd have stunk after Wimbledon regardless but I think it mattered quite a bit.

The slams are the war and he got compromised fighting a rather meaningless battle. Quite frankly in good form he'd have straight setted DP and he'd have been the favorite tonight...but that will always live in the hidden land of hypotheticals.

 

[britbox]

Anyone doubting this is the defacto final?

 

[DarthFed]

Anyone doubting this is the defacto final?

If DP wins today I wouldn't necessarily hand him the title. If Nadal wins then yes it is over.

 

[Jelenafan]

I just think Nadal's serving is the big if. Del Porto can hit him off the court if he doesn't impose order on his own service games consistently.

Del Potro doesn't seem to be playing on fumes anymore, and he did get one full day of rest. If there is physical fatigue, well a long 4 to 5 set SF ; I'd place it on (if) making it to the finals and playing then for Del Potro.

That said, I imagine Nadal is going to try to throw high topspin shots to Juan Martin's BH all night long and as I speak I'm imagining Moya having him hit dozens of DTL Backhands in practice. While I think JM can handle it , but Nadal will run all day out there and stretch Martin out, yes, Martin has a wonderful FH on the run, but on his own terms so I do think that's going to be the ultimate decider if Nadal can keep JM not quite set often enough. Fed thought he could hit through JM's FH because of his own superb FH which in hindsight was not good. My pick is it's going to be 4 tight sets for Nadal.

 

[Denis]

Delpo's bachand in the last two matches was not really a vulnerability. But now he has to deal with Rafa's forehand coming at it time after time. If he serves like he did against Roger and control the rest of the point with his forehand, he will have a chance . I think his confidence must be huge right now , considering he was about to quit after two sets against Thiem. Someone wins in 4 . I hope it is Delpo.

So what is the story with the backhand? We've seen him slicing for a good two years now and suddenly he can hit it again? I mean that's great, but what's the story?