Argentine Juan Martin del Potro advanced to the finals of US Open with world No. 1 and Defending champion Rafael Nadal retired from the semifinal clash. Potro was leading 7-6(7-3), 6-2 in the match when the Spaniard retired. The two players fought it out in the first set but Juan Martin del Potro won the set in the tiebreaker. Argentine had a clear upper hand in the second set and it was evident that Nadal was struggling with the injury.
Nadal told that the knee has been a concern through the tournament and he waited as much as he can. “You could imagine very difficult for me to say goodbye before the match finish. But at some point, you have to take a decision. “It was so difficult for me to keep playing that way, having too much pain,” he added.
“Of course, it’s not the best way to win a match,” del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, addressed the crowd. “I love to play against Rafa because he is the biggest fighter. Don’t like to see him suffer like he was today. Anyway, the key of the match was the first set and we both played good tennis. “I’m so happy to be in the final again.”
