Second seed Rafael Nadal will have to wait another year for a chance at winning his first US Open title after he was stunned 6-3 5-7 7-6 6-1 by Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
NEW YORK: Second seed Rafael Nadal will have to wait another year for a chance at winning his first US Open title after he was stunned 6-3 5-7 7-6 6-1 by Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
The Spaniard, who won the French Open title and reached the final at Wimbledon this year, was outplayed by an inspired Youzhny, who advanced to his first grand slam semifinal and denied Nadal a possible third successive showdown in a Grand Slam final against number one Roger Federer.
The 20-year-old lefthander, gracious in defeat, said he had played his best tennis of the tournament so far despite falling to the unseeded Russian.
“Maybe I play my best match in New York here today,” Nadal said. “My best tennis. Youzhny was playing unbelievable tennis.”
Nadal said he might have lost his composure after a turning point in the match, in the third set when Youzhney battled back from 0-40 with triple set point against his serve at 5-4 in the Spaniard's favor.
Once they reached the tiebreaker, Nadal took a 5-4 lead before his forehand drive clipped the net cord and floated out long.
Youzhny, 24, won the next two points to claim the tiebreaker, 7-5.
“I am happy with my tennis, but I was not playing with my best calm in the important moments,” said Nadal.
“When you have love-40… and 5-4 in the tiebreak, you touch the net and the ball goes out for the baseline, so that's not the best of luck, no?”
“I say congratulate Mikhail. He was playing very, very good.”
Using the angles to open up the court and dominating Nadal from the baseline, world number 54 Youzhny smashed 49 winners to his opponent's 23 to set up a meeting with either Andy Roddick of the US or Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, both former Open champions.
“I am happy with my game, but I cannot say I am very happy with my tournament,” said Nadal, whose best previous Open result was the third round last year.
“My goal now is to improve,” said Nadal, saying he would like to serve better, play more aggressively with his return, and upgrade his volley.
“My special goal is next year in Australia. I want to improve. I have four months and I'm going to try my best. I'm going to try to improve every day.”
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