Nadal to face Berrettini in US Open semi-finals
New York
No Swiss woman has won a Grand Slam singles title since Martina Hingis captured the 1999 Australian Open, but Belinda Bencic hopes to end that two-decade drought at the US Open.
And with Swiss legend Roger Federer and his three-time Grand Slam-winning countryman Stan Wawrinka ousted in the men’s quarter-finals, Bencic has extra motivation entering Thursday’s semi-finals at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“This is not a good thing. I’m not happy about this actually,” Bencic said of the Federer and Wawrinka losses. “I’m kind of surprised, like I think everyone is.
“It would be really nice if the boys could also make it to semi-finals but I’m happy I can kind of do it for them and don’t let them down.”
This year’s showdown at Flushing Meadows is the 83rd Slam since Hingis won the last of her five major singles titles.
Bencic will face Canadian teen 15th seed Bianca Andreescu, a fellow Slam semi debutante, for the first time Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium. She’s trying to become the first Canadian singles Grand Slam champion.
“That would be pretty awesome,” said Andreescu. “If it happens, then I think I can pave way for many other athletes, the next generation, not only for Canadian tennis but I think for many people.”
Ukraine’s fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina meets Serena Williams, seeking her 24th Slam title to match Margaret Court’s all-time record, in the other semi-final.
Bencic, seeded 13th, has battled back from 2017 left wrist surgery and other injuries that slowed her career for most of two seasons, winning her third WTA title in February at Dubai.
“She likes to be very aggressive,” Andreescu said. “She has a very good serve. She moves pretty well, too.”
The is Bencic’s deepest Slam run, surpassing her 2014 US Open debut last-eight appearance, but it comes after having had to battle adversity.
“It’s there like a dream always. Even when you are playing bad, you want to come back to this feeling. I think that’s the motivation enough to keep going,” Bencic said.
“For sure being number one in the world or winning a Grand Slam is always a dream. But I think it’s still a long way to that. Of course, I think you can see it there.
“The work and staying in the moment is more important right now. Just taking it step by step.”
Bencic has tried to stay calm on the court but has found that venting her frustrations can help her focus.
Rafael Nadal will play Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the US Open semi-finals after the 18-time Grand Slam champion defeated Argentine 20th seed Diego Schwartzman 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.
Second seed Nadal—a winner at Flushing Meadows in 2010, 2013 and 2017—beat a spirited Schwartzman for the eighth time in as many meetings in a match that finished early Thursday morning.
Schwartzman put up firm resistance against Nadal and twice fought back from double-break deficits in the first two sets, but the Spaniard found another gear at crucial moments to secure an eighth semi-final berth in New York.—APP