Rafael Nadal made quick work of 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev in a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 carnage in the U.S Open quarterfinals under the roof at Ashe Stadium Wednesday.
Coming in as the No. 1 seed, Nadal has now made his sixth US Open semifinal.
The surging Spanish lefthander waits for Roger Federer to join him for Friday’s semifinals in a potentially historic meeting. The epic rivals have never squared off in Flushing Meadows.
Federer lost to his old friend Juan Martin del Potro 7-5, 3-6, 7-6, 7-4 on Wednesday’s night card nearly eight years after the Argentine ended the Swiss Maestro’s run of five straight Open titles.
“It’s strange we never played here,’’ Nadal said in the post-match on-court interview. “We’ve played in all the important events in the world. We missed it (here). It would be much more special if that can happen in the final (so) we’ll try to come back next year and make that happen. But I will be very excited to play that match.’’
“The most special thing we created a classic match that people expect to see — a combination of styles,’’ Nadal said. “What really makes this match special is we have been competing for the most important events for, 10, 12 years. (It) is even more special when we are at the last part of our careers.’’
Asked what he admired most about the Swiss Maestro, Nadal cracked, “I don’t want to look like I gonna be his boyfriend.’’
Nadal, the bullish baseliner, smiled when asked what he’ll do in the evening. “I’m going to be having dinner, probably,’’ Nadal said, laughing. “Of course it is match I want to see. Two great players. It will be very difficult.’’
If they do meet, the 31-year-old Nadal, will be well-rested. His last two matches — including his fourth-round, straight-setter over Alexandr Dolgopolov — were cakewalks. Nadal needed one hour, 36 minutes to dispatch Rublev, who showed he’s not quite ready for the grand stage.
“I think I have been improving during the whole event,’’ Nadal said. “Now is the moment to do it – (take) another step forward.’’
Rublev got to this point with upsets over David Goffin and Grigor Dmitrov but he couldn’t hold his serve against Nadal. “First quarterfinal, he made more mistakes than usual,’’ Nadal said.
Nadal broke him seven times in the match. Rublev won just just 37 of 82 of his service points. Nadal broke him in the match’s second game to go up 2-0 and Rublev couldn’t stop the Spaniard’s spree. Rublev’s service placement was nowhere up to standard and he seemed nervous, over-hitting balls. In the third set, Rublev even got called for a foot fault.
“He gave me a lesson – 1, 2 and 2,’’ Rublev said. “I’m upset only with my serve. If I was serving like I did in first round, I’d play the match much better and the score would be 3, 3 4.”
Both rivals appear to be clicking. After spotty five-set victories in his first two matches during which he played tentatively because of his tricky back , Federer, 36, entered the Del Potro showdown rolling, having won his last two matches in straight sets.
At last year’s Open, Federer was home in Switzerland, rehabbing from knee surgery, while Nadal got bounced out unceremoniously in the fourth round by obscure Frenchmen Lucas Pouille. A year later, they may tango together in Flushing.