Rafael Nadal overcomes Fabio Fognini in four sets in US Open second round
Rafa Nadal became the first player since John McEnroe 25 years earlier to win two sets and a game in all four of his sets against Fabio Fognini in the U.S. Open semi-final.
The victory came at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York, where Fognini was the No. 4 seed in the men’s draw. Fognini had previously lost in the first round of last year’s U.S. Open to Tomic, the No. 30 seed.
“To win in this atmosphere is very special and very special because we have to start the new year with a win of this quality in New York,” Nadal said.
Nadal, ranked third in the world, defeated world No. 2 Novak Djokovic 7-5, 6-4 in the final of the men’s quarter-final match.
Earlier, Nadal defeated Fognini in the first set 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. Fognini, ranked No. 22 in the world, came into the match by winning the first set against Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4.
It was the first time Fognini had played either player in a major final. Fognini was defeated by Djokovic in the Australian Open final on Saturday, in Melbourne, and was upset in the second round at Wimbledon by Russian Mikhail Youzhny in the same stadium.
Nadal was playing his first match in the U.S. Open in two years after withdrawing due to injury in the semi-finals of the French Open in June. He lost his first-round match to Roger Federer in New York.
Nadal is the first man to win two sets in a U.S. Open semi-final since John McEn
