That’s all from me tonight. But there’s more to come from New York. Do join Bryan Armen Graham for live coverage of Roger Federer versus Juan Martin del Potro later. It could be special. Bye!
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Nadal is asked about a potential semi-final against Roger Federer - what will he be doing during his great rival’s match against Juan Martin del Potro tonight? “I’m going to be having dinner probably. In Spain we have a late dinner. They play at 9, no? So it is our time for dinner. But it is a match I will pay attention to. Two great players, a great show. It’s strange we’ve never played here. It’s something we missed. It would be more special if it could come back in a final, but it is not possible for that to happen, so we’re going to come back next year to see if we can make it happen.”
Rafa Nadal speaks. “It was a good match. For Andrey it was his first quarter-finals, so of course he played with more mistakes than usual. But winning two matches with straight sets is important for me. This year has been an emotional year. I have been playing very well almost every tournament after some years with some problems in terms of injuries and others from not playing so well. So you appreciate it. Especially late in my career it’s something six or seven years ago I didn’t think about. I’m very happy to be in the semi-finals.”
One hour and 37 minutes. Ouch. Andrey Rublev has had an excellent tournament, but he’ll want to put this one behind him in a hurry.
Rafa Nadal beats Andrey Rublev 6-1, 6-2, 6-2!
Nadal doesn’t have to hang around for two match points. He can’t take the first, netting a backhand. Rublev idolises Nadal so much, though, that he nets a backhand on the next point. It’s all over. It didn’t take long. A low-tension quarter-final comes to a forgettable end. Nadal is into his first US Open semi-final since 2013.
Third set: Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 5-2 Rublev* (*denotes server): Nadal bangs a forehand away for 0-15. Rublev nets a backhand. Somehow he fights back to 30-all. A big serve down the middle makes it 40-30. He holds to 30. It’s belated resistance, but Nadal is about to stamp it out.
Third set: Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 5-1 Rublev (*denotes server): Nadal holds to love. “Few players can live with Nadal when he’s in this mood,” says Simon McMahon. “Though Federer is one of them. That’s a mouthwatering prospect. As is a fully fit Andy Murray returning at the Australian Open. The game has missed him, and Djokovic too. With Nadal and Federer rolling back the years I’m looking forward to the Australian Open already. It’ll be like a Beatles comeback tour. In a manner of speaking of course.”
Third set: Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 4-1 Rublev* (*denotes server): Rublev pummels a few forehands at Nadal, who eventually seizes control of the rally and leaves the Russian floundering. Before long Nadal has two break points. He can’t take them. A third comes and goes. Rublev keeps scrapping. He’s desperately trying to fend off Nadal. Facing a seventh break point, though, he double-faults.
Third set: Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 3-1 Rublev (*denotes server): Nadal just refuses to lower his intensity for a second.
Third set: Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 2-1 Rublev* (*denotes server): Nadal’s unlikelier to have had an easier run to a grand slam semi-final. His opponents simply haven’t been capable of coping with him - and you wouldn’t have expected anything of them to have been able to. He’ll be nice and rested before a possible semi-final against Federer.
Third set: Nadal* 6-1, 6-2, 2-0 Rublev (*denotes server): Nadal holds to 30 and consolidates the break.
Third set: Nadal 6-1, 6-2, 1-0 Rublev* (*denotes server): Barring a Del Potro-esque comeback from Rublev, I’m afraid this is over as a contest. Despite hard running during the first exchange of this set, he loses the point. It’s not long before Nadal has three break points. Rublev double-faults. Wince.
Rafa Nadal wins the second set 6-2; he leads 6-1, 6-2!
A vintage forehand from Nadal, who appears to be in a hurry, closes out the set. Poor Rublev. He’s been utterly overwhelmed. There’s no shame in it. Not against this guy.
Second set: Nadal 6-1, 5-2 Rublev* (*denotes server): “Uh oh,” says John McEnroe on Eurosport - Nadal’s just whistled a forehand down the line for 0-30. Rublev fires a forehand down the line for 15-30, but another error hands Nadal two break points. Nadal fluffs two returns, but he gets another chance when Rublev nets a forehand. He takes this one. Or, more accurately, Rublev gives it to him, netting a backhand.
Second set: Nadal* 6-1, 4-2 Rublev (*denotes server): Nadal saves two break points to force deuce. He holds with an ace. This is remarkably stress-free.
Second set: Nadal 6-1, 3-2 Rublev* (*denotes server): But Rublev, being young and inexperienced and overawed, gives too much away. Struggling to play the percentages, he nets a weak backhand to make it 15-40. At which point he double-faults. The applause is sympathetic.
Second set: Nadal* 6-1, 2-2 Rublev (*denotes server): Nadal gives so little away for free. He holds to love.
Second set: Nadal 6-1, 1-2 Rublev* (*denotes server): Rublev fizzes a forehand out of reach for 30-15. A double-fault makes it 30-all. Nadal quickly earns a break point. Nadal surprisingly nets a forehand, though. Deuce. From where Rublev stubbornly holds. Progress.
Second set: Nadal* 6-1, 1-1 Rublev (*denotes server): Down 15-0, Rublev shows off his potential with two searing angles to clamber to 15-30. The fans love those. Nadal doesn’t. No problem, though. He narrows his eyes and holds to 30.
Second set: Nadal 6-1, 0-1 Rublev* (*denotes server): Rublev didn’t hold once in the first set. Naturally he begins this one by holding to love with an ace.
Rafa Nadal wins the first set 6-1!
Nadal quickly seizes three set points. Rublev nets a forehand. That didn’t take long.
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First set: Nadal 5-1 Rublev* (*denotes server): Rublev has hit some outstanding shots so far. Problem is he lacks consistency, as you’d expect from someone so raw, while the bloke on the other side of the net is capable of wizardry of his own. Nadal begins the game with an awesome backhand from right to left and it’s not long before he leads 0-40. These are set points. Nadal fluffs the first, butchering a forehand. Not the second, though. Rublev drops a volley shot, Nadal rams a backhand down the line.
First set: *Nadal 4-1 Rublev (*denotes server): A much better service game from Nadal, which has Rublev all over the place. He holds to love.
First set: Nadal 3-1 Rublev* (*denotes server): Both players have been guilty of some bad unforced errors (are there good unforced errors?) Rublev volleys wide at the net early in the game. Entertainingly, the umpire has a world weary voice, which makes her sound like she has contempt for the previous shot whenever she announces the score - very chucklesome after a bad error. Another loose shot from Rublev and he’s broken again.
First set: *Nadal 2-1 Rublev (*denotes server): Rublev has the frame of a young Andy Murray and the dagger glares to his team in the players’ box too. An angry crosscourt forehand helps him to 15-30 on Rafa’s serve. Then a bad miss from Rafa - he dumps the ball into the net with the court wide open - gives Rublev with two break points. An ace rescues the first one bur he can’t save the second! Rafa is broken and we’re back on serve!
First set: Nadal 2-0 Rublev* (*denotes server): Rublev shows why he’s here as his service game opens with two strong forehands that are too good for Nadal. Rublev looks a little like a young Andy Murray - skinny and tall. If he can put on muscle, like Murray did, he can hopefully bulk up his serve, which isn’t causing Rafa too many problems (admittedly 100mph faster than mine). And he is broken straight away after a long forehand.
First set: Nadal* 1-0 Rublev (*denotes server): Rafa serves first. And wins the first point: Rublev’s backhand down the line turns into a backhand into the net. The Russian does little to trouble his opponent for the rest of the game and hits a few wayward shots as the No1 seed holds to 15 - the only worry for Rafa is his serve - he gets just one first serve in.
Rublev has, of course, faced a No1 seed in a grand slam this year - Andy Murray at the Aussie Open. It didn’t end well:
The two players are warming up - Rafa looks pretty rusty in the early stages of the tournament but was his old self in the last 16. As good as Rublev has been so far, he’s the youngest player to have reached the last eight here since Andy Roddick and the former champion should be too good. The Russian doesn’t have the kind of huge serve that can sometimes trouble Rafa.
And they’re out on court. This is the 19-year-old’s Rublev first ever match on Arthur Ashe. It’s Rafa’s 55th.
We’re still waiting for Nadal and Rublev to make their way onto Arthur Ashe, but these two have met before. Although not technically in a match:
When Rublev met @RafaelNadal back in 2014. (📸: @AndreyRublev97)
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 6, 2017
Today the meet in the US Open QFs.#idols #waybackwednesday #usopen pic.twitter.com/nKvkGJPAZY
Next up on Arthur Ashe: Rafael Nadal versus Andrey Rublev. Tom Lutz will #helm the blog while I fry some tuna.
Coco Vandeweghe, who beat Angelique Kerber in Australia when the German was world No1 speaks. “When I won this event as a junior at 16, I always dreamed about being on the real stage. I did expect it overnight when I was 16, but it is a process and now here I am and I couldn’t wish for anything better. I watched the match last night with Venus. She said it best, we have to admire Serena and Venus, Lindsay and Jennifer, they all inspired me as an American coming up, and let’s make it four for four.” Over to you, Madison Keys.
All of which means Karolina Pliskova loses her No1 ranking. Garbine Muguruza will be the new world No1.
Coco Vandeweghe beats Karolina Pliskova 7-6, 6-3!
A few whoops and cheers from the crowd. Some applause. Vandeweghe swings her right arm, loosening it up before preparing to go in for what she hope will be the kill. She starts well, serving precisely, waiting for Pliskova to miss a backhand. Then she nets a forehand at the end of a tense rally, though. 15-all. Pliskova spies an opening. She goes for broke with her forehand and, although Vandeweghe hangs in there, she wrongfoots the American to make it 15-30. Vandeweghe responds by rattling a forehand down the line ... Pliskova challenges. It hit the line. Pliskova is out of challenges. But she does have a break point, Vandeweghe netting a backhand. Vandeweghe makes Pliskova run, though, and the Czech nets a forehand for deuce. Soon, after smacking a forehand away, she has her first match point. Whooping. Whistling. Cheering. Deuce. The net’s in the way of a Vandeweghe forehand. Silence. Then more cheering: Vandeweghe finds the mark with a forehand. She gets her first serve in ... and Pliskova nets a forehand! Falling to her knees, Vandeweghe is ecstatic! She’s knocked out the world No1 to reach her first semi-final at her home slam!
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Second set: Pliskova* 6-7, 3-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the match, Pliskova races into a 40-0 lead. She holds to love. Vandeweghe will serve for it.
Second set: Pliskova 6-7, 2-5 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Pliskova challenges during the rally, thinking a Vandeweghe shot was long. It was not. 15-0. From there, Vandeweghe stomps into a 40-15 lead. Pliskova tries to detain her, but it’s looking an increasingly forlorn task. Vandeweghe holds to 30. She’s a game away from victory.
Second set: Pliskova* 6-7, 2-4 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Now she has nothing to lose, Vandeweghe is going for it again. Life of the mind, eh? At 15-30, it’s Pliskova who shortcircuits, spooning a dreadful backhand past the baseline to give up two break points. Pliskova saves the first with a powerful serve out wide, but then a nothing volley allows Vandeweghe to move forward and steer a forehand away to break again!
Second set: Pliskova 6-7, 2-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): But now the match is hers to lose, doubt intrudes on Vandeweghe’s thoughts and she gives up a break point with a tentative forehand. She recovers well, slapping a forehand away for deuce, but she’s got to deal with another break point after netting a straightforward forehand. She saves it with an ace. But then she nets a backhand. Then another. Pliskova’s back in it.
Second set: Pliskova* 6-7, 1-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova is teetering here, double-faulting for 0-30. This is a huge opportunity for Vandeweghe, who earns two break points when the world No1 drags a skittish forehand wide. She only needs one, walloping a forehand return back to Pliskova’s forehand, which drifts long. A semi-final place is hers to lose.
Second set: Pliskova 6-7, 1-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): There’s no sign of Vandeweghe losing her focus just yet. Another impressive, untroubled hold.
Second set: Pliskova* 6-7, 1-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova reminds everyone that it won’t be easy breaking for her, gliding into a 40-0 lead. Vandeweghe musters brief resistance with a rollocking forehand return for 40-15, but Pliskova holds easily.
Second set: Pliskova 6-7, 0-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): A confident start to the second set for Vandeweghe, holding to love, serving with supreme poise. You fancy this is going to be tough for Pliskova.
Coco Vandeweghe wins the first set 7-6!
First set tie-break: Pliskova 4-7 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe finds a first serve and Pliskova, so sloppy, dumps another forehand return long! The 20th seed is a set away from knocking out the world No1 and reaching the semi-finals.
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First set tie-break: Pliskova 4-6 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Pliskova wildly puts a forehand long. Two set points for Vandeweghe.
First set tie-break: Pliskova* 4-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe puts a forehand wide.
First set tie-break: Pliskova* 3-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova serves well.
First set tie-break: Pliskova 2-5 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Pliskova nets a backhand.
First set tie-break: Pliskova 2-4 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe overpowers Pliskova with a huge forehand.
First set tie-break: Pliskova* 2-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Another error from Vandeweghe.
First set tie-break: Pliskova* 1-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe lifts a forehand past the baseline.
First set tie-break: Pliskova 0-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Pliskova nets a forehand return.
First set tie-break: Pliskova 0-2 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Pliskova sends a forehand return long.
First set tie-break: Pliskova* 0-1 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova serves accurately out wide, but Vandeweghe jumps on to it and batters a forehand down the line.
First set: Pliskova 6-6 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe begins with a forehand winner for 15-0. She holds to 15. Tie-break.
First set: Pliskova* 6-5 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova unfussily holds to 15. Vandeweghe will be under pressure again.
First set: Pliskova 5-5 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set, Vandeweghe is pleased with herself after a serve doesn’t come back over the net on the first point. At 15-all, she gobbles up a short ball to punch a forehand away, only to net a forehand for 30-all. Vandeweghe is two points from a hold, but Pliskova is two points from the set. Vandeweghe is relieved when a Pliskova forehand is called out. Pliskova challenges to no avail, but the game goes to deuce after a potentially costly double-fault from Vandeweghe, who’s facing a set point after netting a weary backhand. Pliskova attacks. Vandeweghe clings on, though, and then rams a backhand from left to right. It lands just inside the line and Pliskova nets a slice. From there, she holds with a crunching backhand down the line, which is enough to raise the volume in the stands.
First set: Pliskova* 5-4 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): “Come on!” Vandeweghe cries. She’s so pumped up. Her emotions betrayed her in that previous sloppy game, but they help he here, as she overpowers Pliskova for 0-15. Feeling the pressure, Pliskova proceeds to double-fault for 0-30. She composes herself, though, and at 15-30 she volleys beautifully for 30-all. She holds to 30, slicing a volley from right to left, and Vandeweghe will serve to stay in this highly intriguing opening set.
First set: Pliskova 4-4 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): This is the first test for Vandeweghe, who’s down 0-30 after overcooking a forehand, a consequence of Pliskova’s firmer hitting. Vandeweghe responds by laying down two big first serves to force Pliskova to net her returns. The game goes to 30-all. Vandeweghe makes it 40-30 with an ace out wide. Then she double-faults. Deuce. Steam’s starting to come out of her ears. Another one hands Pliskova a break point, causing her emotions to spill over as she smashes her racket into the ground. She walks to her chair to collect a new one, gathers her thoughts and saves the break point with a huge backhand, but she’s facing a second after netting a forehand. Pliskova can see her opponent’s struggling here and she pulls a forehand out of reach to cancel out the break.
First set: Pliskova* 3-4 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova holds to love.
First set: Pliskova 2-4 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): The first two points are shared, but Vandeweghe continues to dominate in the baseline exchanges, moving into a 40-15 lead. She closes out another accomplished service game with handy play at the net. The slight worry for Vandeweghe might be that Pliskova seems to be playing within herself at the moment.
First set: Pliskova* 2-3 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Pliskova settles down a little, holding to 30 without much of a challenge from her spiky opponent.
First set: Pliskova 1-3 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): Vandeweghe’s serve is causing more damage than Pliskova’s at the moment. She’s quickly into a 40-0 lead, Pliskova unable to get into the rally. She holds to love when the world no1 nets a return.
First set: Pliskova* 1-2 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): Vandeweghe has a good read on that venomous Pliskova serve in these early stages and she’s feeling perky after racing into a 0-30 lead. Then comes a baseline exchange. Vandeweghe is solid, Pliskova is wobbly. The Czech pulls a forehand wide to give up three break points. She saves the first with an ... ace. Vandeweghe goes on the attack on the second, though, punching a forehand return down the line, Pliskova nowhere near it. It’s called out - it’s worth a challenge. Because that ball caught the line and HawkEye confirms the early break for the home favourite, who has made a mighty start.
First set: Pliskova 1-1 Vandeweghe* (*denotes server): A confident start from Vandeweghe, who nails a forehand for 40-15 before rattling an ace out wide to hold.
First set: Pliskova* 1-0 Vandeweghe (*denotes server): It’s the big-serving Czech who gets this US Open quarter-final underway. She loses the first point, netting a backhand, but rattles through the next three to lead 40-15. Vandeweghe hits back with a big forehand return for 40-30, but Pliskova holds with a solid serve.
Here come the players. A fine reception for Coco Vandeweghe, a respectful one for Karolina Pliskova. The roof is covering Arthur Ashe; it’s a wet day in New York.
Earlier today Andy Murray announced that he is unlikely to play for the rest of the season. Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s full report.
This is the fifth meeting between Pliskova and Vandeweghe. Their head-to-head is tied at 2-2 - it’s 1-1 on hard courts, while Vandeweghe won their only previous grand slam meeting, beating the Czech in two sets at Wimbledon two years ago. It wouldn’t be a shock if the American wins this.
Hello. What a thrill it must be to be an American at the moment. Well, it is if you’re a tennis fan. The locals who fill the stands on Arthur Ashe haven’t had it this good in years, the exploits of Serena Williams notwithstanding. We already have confirmation that the women’s draw will feature one all-American semi-final – Venus Williams versus the resurgent Sloane Stephens – and today we discover whether it’s going to be a clean sweep in the last four. The night session begins with Madison Keys taking on the unseeded Kaia Kanepi - but before that our attention will be on the day’s first match, which features the powerful Coco Vandeweghe, who has already reached an Australian Open semi-final and a Wimbledon quarter-final this year.
But it’s not going to be easy for the 20th seed. For standing in her way is Karolina Pliskova, the world No1 and a beaten finalist in New York last year. Vandweghe has made it this far after seeing off some tough opponents, but Pliskova, with her crisp groundstrokes, imposing frame and booming serves, represents a major step-up in class. The Czech might not have been entirely convincing in the first week, especially during three-set duels with Nicole Gibbs and then Shuai Zhang, and she’s yet to win a grand slam despite sitting at the top of the rankings, but that was one mighty show of intent on Monday, when she allowed the USA’s Jennifer Brady only one game during 46 brutally one-sided minutes. This promises to be a fine match - and once it’s done, whenever that’ll be, it’ll be time for the men’s No1 to make his entrance. Roger Federer awaits us later, ready to face the mighty Juan Martin del Potro, but not before Rafael Nadal takes a closer look at Andrey Rublev, the young Russian teenager who’s rather stolen Denis Shapovalov’s thunder this week.
Play begins at: 5pm BST and 1pm in New York.
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