First semifinal set as Nadal, Murray advance

Top seed Rafael Nadal and 35th ranked Mardy Fish took to Arthur Ashe Stadium Court a little late last night, 11:30 p.m. to be exact. Neither had any plans to call it a night early though, as the two grinded it out until about 2:10 a.m. While Nadal came out on top, it was a valiant effort for Fish who was practically fighting for his life out there, living and dieing by every winner hit or unforced error committed.

In their previous four meetings, Nadal hadn’t conceded a single set, but Fish started out well early and took the first 6-3. It was his serve that was pacing him, as Fish fired nine aces in the opening frame, while also converting on his only break opportunity. And that was the only break chance he got the rest of the way. Nadal made quick work of Fish in the second, and then converted in a critical 3-3 game in the third set, breaking the American and really taking over the match. Nadal advanced the semifinals with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 victory, while Fish was sent home after his greatest US Open performance, fresh off the heels of a runner-up finish in New Haven.

In the semis, Nadal will meet No. 6 seed Andy Murray, who did battle with 19-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro. While Del Potro was riding a 23-match streak, Murray held an impressive 12-1 summer hard court record, thus pitting the two strongest players of the summer not named Nadal. The two played earlier this year in Rome, where they exchanged some words on a changeover, but like that contest Murray came out on top. Murray held a two sets to love lead and had double break point at 4-3 in the third, but it took four tight sets to get best the streaking Argentine. In a match that took nearly four hours, Murray scored the victory over the No. 17 seed, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1), 4-6, 7-5.

Murray is already having a career year, with three titles and a 40-13 record this season. One of those titles was the ATP Masters Series Cincinnati, also Murray’s first Masters Series finals appearance, while his quarterfinal appearance at Wimbledon was his greatest Grand Slam performance to date. Now, Murray finds himself in the semis in New York, and the soon-to-be No. 4 player in the world will face Rafa on Friday. Nadal owns a 5-0 record against the 21-year-old Murray, including three wins this year, but in their most recent meeting nearly two months ago, Murray took the Spaniard to three sets in Canada.