Yesterday, Wimbledon fans had the privilege of enjoying the best match of this year’s tournament when Rafael Nadal defeated Juan Martin del Potro in five sets (7-5, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4).
Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin del Potro
Nadal lost a mere 36 games on his way to the quarter-finals, yet he knew del Potro will not be an easy prey. The Argentinian never is. The Spaniard broke del Potro with a series of long rallies to break him and win the first set. The second set was when all the fun began. Del Potro’s timely break meant he would serve the set. However, his untimely double-fault gave the break back to his opponent. The set went to a tie-break, where del Potro saved four set points and then broke Nadal with a forehand that clipped the net and fell inside the service box.
Many matches end in two-and-a-half hours. Nadal and del Potro were tied at 3-3 and a set apiece at that juncture. Rafa tried to tire his Argentinian counterpart by forcing him to run left and right, but the 5th seed survived by using his powerful forehand to break Nadal and win the second set. In the fourth set, it was Nadal’s time to deliver a punch and he did it by breaking del Potro to love. DelPo tried to get the break back, but slipped on the Centre Court’s dusty grass, something which forced him to even switch his shoes midway through the set. It didn’t help. Nadal kept his cool and the match was tied again.
When everyone thought Nadal’s engine was steaming, del Potro restarted his and made a contest out of the final frame. After breaking the Argentinian in the fifth game, Nadal had to save two break points in the sixth and two more in the eighth before claiming a famous victory.
“the best I’ve seen in the tournament so far” – Andy Murray on the fifth set between Nadal and del Potro
Novak Djokovic up next
Nadal’s win along with Federer’s shocking five-set loss to South Africa’s Kevin Anderson (2-6, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 13-11) means he’s now the favourite to reach his first Wimbledon final since 2011 and win his third Wimbledon title overall. His next opponent is Novak Djokovic, who defeated Kei Nishikori in four sets to get to the semi-finals.
In the other Wimbledon 2018 match on Friday, Kevin Anderson will play American John Isner, who’s in his first Grand Slam semi-final, having failed to reach one in his previous 41 attempts. Isner has yet to be broken at this year’s tournament and saved the only break point he faced.
