Rafael Nadal moved one win away from a third US Open title and 16th Grand Slam crown Friday when he defeated weary Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.
The 31-year-old Spaniard, the 2010 and 2013 champion in New York, will be playing in his 23rd Slam final and third this year, looking to add the US title to his record 10th French Open.
In Sunday’s final, the world number one will face 32nd-ranked Kevin Anderson, the first South African in the championship match in 52 years but given the manner in which Nadal dominated Del Potro he will clearly start the match as a huge favourite.
Here are all the amazing numbers that emerged after the semi-final:
This is a fact which is surprising in a sneaky way:
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) September 9, 2017
This is the FIRST TIME Nadal has made the final at both hardcourt majors in a year.
#Nadal trying to win multiple #GrandSlam titles in a season for 4th time in career:
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) September 9, 2017
2010 (3)
2013 (2)
2008 (2)#USOpen
Most times in Grand Slam finals
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) September 9, 2017
29 - Roger Federer
23 - Rafael Nadal
21 - Novak Djokovic
19 - Ivan Lendl
18 - Pete Sampras#USOpen
FINALES ATP:
— Fernando Grisolía (@FerGrisolia) September 9, 2017
Connors 164
Lendl 146
Federer 142#Nadal 109
McEnroe 109
Vilas 104
Djokovic 98
Rafa igualó a Big Mac.
.@RafaelNadal advances to 3rd #GrandSlam final of season for 3rd time in career (2010-11, 2017). Nadal 15-7 in Slam finals. #USOpen
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) September 9, 2017
23 major finals for Nadal, 10 on clay, 13 away from it. He's no specialist, which really goes without saying.
— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) September 9, 2017
nadal's last 15 grand slam semifinals matches:
— Tennis Tweets (@tennistweetscom) September 9, 2017
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W
W#vamosrafa
Rafa Nadal's Grand Slam singles record lifetime: 225-33
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) September 9, 2017
An .872 winning percentage.
Ridiculous.
FH winners, 25 Nadal, 11 Delpo. Total winners, 45 Nadal, 23 Delpo. Well, talk about who's the aggressive player #USOpen
— Ubitennis (@Ubitennis) September 9, 2017
Of course, Anderson and Nadal do go back a long way. Nineteen years after Anderson and Nadal met as 12 year olds in ‘98 Junior Nike Masters in Stuggart, they’ll meet in #USOpen Final
Y los finalistas del #USOpen 2017 son...
— ATP en Español (@ATPWorldTour_ES) September 9, 2017
¡@RafaelNadal vs. @KAndersonATP! pic.twitter.com/4HJo0CWIts
