A teenage tyro and Juan Martin del Potro’s sledgehammer forehand stand between a blockbuster US Open semi-final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The two tennis giants marched into the last eight with straight-set victories to edge tantalisingly close to a long-awaited first-time showdown under New York’s bright lights.
Nadal crushed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-2 6-4 6-1 in one hour and 41 minutes before Federer swept past Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 6-2 7-5 in an equally clinical fourth-round display.
Nadal will square off with 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev, who tamed ninth-seeded Belgian David Goffin 7-5 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 to become the youngest man to reach the Open quarter-finals since Andy Roddick in 2001.
Federer faces the biggest test yet after Del Potro — the only man to ever topple the great Swiss in a US Open final — sent fans into a frenzy on the Grandstand with a dramatic five-set triumph over sixth seed Dominic Thiem.
Del Potro overcame illness and a two-set deficit for the first time at a major to wear Thiem down 1-6 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 after three hours and 35 minutes.
The ailing 2009 champion seemed close to retirement early on as Thiem took command but somehow conjured the finest comeback of his career.
Del Potro famously ended Federer’s five-year reign in 2009, also ultimately denying Federer a non-calendar-year grand slam, before a chronic wrist injury almost ended his career.
But once again, in inflicting Thiem with his first loss from two sets up at a slam, Del Potro proved that it’s not just his deadly forehand but arguably the biggest heart in tennis that threatens to bring Federer unstuck once again.
Winding the clock back a decade, 36-year-old Federer and 31-year-old Nadal have won the year’s first three grand slam crowns and are heavy favourites to complete the sweep in New York.
Incredibly, though, their compelling 37-match rivalry has never reached Flushing Meadows.
Both living legends are again looking in ominous touch.
Top-ranked Nadal is into the last eight for the first time since 2013, when the Spaniard went on to defeat Novak Djokovic in the final to claim his second Open title.
Rublev is relishing the chance to play one of his idols in tennis’s biggest arena.
“He’s the real champion. I’m just going to enjoy it,” the Russian said.
“It’s the quarter-finals and I have nothing to lose.”
