And that’s all from me. It’s been, well, a better time to be in an air-conditioned office in Kings Cross than a sweaty show court in Flushing Meadows. Bye!
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The men’s semi-finals will be played on Friday afternoon, giving Del Potro three days to get over this phenomenal effort. He’ll play the winner of this evening’s match between Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem.
That was brutal. Del Potro has a post-match chat:
Well I’m so happy to reach another semi-final in my favourite tournament. That’s very special to me. And of course beating John in this kind of match, it’s like an epic match. We both felt tired in the end, we both fought all the match, and I think I survived with my serves in a couple of important moments of the match, and that was the only key.
What, he’s asked, did he do in his 10-minute heat break?
I took a shower and then I rotated my ankles and then I laid down on the table and I didn’t want to come back again, because the heat, it’s impossible to play tennis. But with this crowd, with these people, I’m here.
Juan Martín Del Potro beats John Isner in four sets to reach the semi-finals!
Fourth set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 2-6 Del Potro A fabulous return sets Del Potro, thighs freshly pummelled by the physio at the changeover, on his way to the opening point, but Isner wins the next couple, the second with an ace that Del Potro barely looked at and certainly didn’t try to reach. Then, though, a double fault, and Del Potro is suddenly interested again. At deuce he wrongfoots Isner with a forehand, and that’s match point! Isner’s first serve is bizarrely wide, and though his second is good Del Potro gets it back, clings on for a while and when Isner nets a backhand it’s all over!
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Fourth set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 2-5 Del Potro* Two massive aces help Del Potro to a 40-0 lead, and though Isner wins a point with a nice return that his opponent gives up on, the Argentinian’s next serve is good enough to allow him to control the point and win it with a couple of power forehands.
Fourth set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 2-4 Del Potro Well, well. Del Potro, who seemed fine in the previous game but for those two double faults, barely moves as Isner wins the game to 15.
The physio is called. He runs onto court and surprisingly stops in front of Del Potro. He carries out a brief assessment and promises to return at the next changeover (unless the match is over by then).
Fourth set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 1-4 Del Potro* At 15-15, having been given a route into the game by a double fault, Isner surprises his opponent by chipping and charging, winning the point and a vague hint of potential opportunity. He loses the next point, but another double fault brings break point. Del Potro misses his first serve. This is a real chance now, but Isner’s return is weak, and the forehand that follows is wildly ballooned and flies way long. A few seconds later the game is over.
Fourth set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 1-3 Del Potro Isner starts with an ace down the middle but continues with a couple of unforced errors. 15-30, and he’s two points from almost certain doom. He fractionally overhits a forehand and Del Potro has two break points. This looks very much like curtains, but no! One is saved with an ace, the other with a phenomenal second serve, and Isner turns it around to get himself on the board in set four.
Fourth set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 0-3 Del Potro* Isner wins the first point at the net, but that’s the closest he gets to smelling salvation here. Del Potro gives him some chances, twice failing to win the point at 30-15 when really he ought to have done so, but he made it across the line in the end, and swiftly applies the coup de grace. Whatever Del Potro got up to in those 10 minutes, it appears to have worked.
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Fourth set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 0-2 Del Potro Isner’s left knee is freshly strapped. As the court clock ticks over to three hours he finds himself a 15-30 after three second serves, and then another one ends with Del Potro holding a couple of break points. Cometh the hour cometh the ace, but it only postpones the punishment: Del Potro pounces upon his second break point like a cat upon an unsuspecting sparrow, and goes a break up. Does Isner have enough energy to recover from this?
Fourth set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-7, 0-1 Del Potro* The first game of the fourth set starts with a fine rally, which is promising, but ends at 40-0 with Isner rather limply letting a Del Potro serve fly past him.
They’re back! Just how much good can 10 minutes in an air-conditioned room do? We’re about to find out.
The players will now take a 10-minute heat break. Here’s some relevant reading to carry you through it:
Del Potro takes the third set on a tie break!
Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-7 Del Potro Isner takes the first point on his own serve and attacks the second, but his approach shot isn’t quite good enough and his volley ends up in the net. At 1-2 Isner hits his fastest serve of the match, timed at 140mph. It’s long, but he wins the point anyway. A few moments later, though, he overhits a forehand and Delpo has a mini-break. Isner should have equalised immediately, with Del Potro poorly positioned at the net, but the crosscourt forehand hits the net. The opportunity is lost, and the set goes with it. He does take a point off the Del Potro serve, but by then the Argentinian has taken another one off him, and it’s not enough.
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Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 6-6 Del Potro* Del Potro whips a fabulous forehand down the line as if he’d just stepped from the changing room for a gentle warm-up. He wins the game to 15, having netted a forehand along the way, and we’re heading for another tie break, and a few minutes of massive importance for this match.
Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 6-5 Del Potro A tougher game this for Isner, but at 30-30 Del Potro misreads a serve, and at 40-30 he can hardly reach one, and that’ll do.
Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 5-5 Del Potro* A third successive game in which the returner has failed to win a point or seriously threaten to (though Isner had a forehand that would have won him a point had it not dropped a couple of inches long).
Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 5-4 Del Potro That’s a mercifully brief game for Isner, who holds to love. Del Potro is excellent, but this match has for the time being become the story of his opponent’s battle against the conditions and his own body.
Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 4-4 Del Potro* Isner starts the game with a fresh shirt and a fresh impetus, but having taken a measure of charge of the opening point he dumps the ball into the net and it’s downhill from there. Del Potro holds to love.
Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 4-3 Del Potro It’s hard to see Isner winning in five sets here, or even finishing them. Del Potro curls a forehand past him for 30-30, at which Isner misses his first serve but then produces a killer second effort. The state of Isner’s shirt here. It is drenched. Dripping. Del Potro forces a mistake, and then produces a return that puts him in charge of the point and he doesn’t let go. Break point. Isner saves it, backhands his way to advantage, and then hits a second serve that kicks so high that Del Potro just can’t reach it.
Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 3-3 Del Potro* Hello again! Del Potro serves his first double fault of the match, and then straight away the second, turning a comfy 30-0 to a nervy 30-30. A service winner brings game point, and though Isner holds it off Del Potro wins the next two points. All the talk is of the conditions: humans just aren’t supposed to be doing this kind of thing in this kind of heat and humidity. They are battling not only each other but nature, and logic.
Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 3-2 Del Potro After a nervy first point, Isner roars back with a couple of fantastic in-out forehands. The pace that both these players are generating is astonishing. A drop shot and an ace for Isner closes out the game and has Del Potro looking a little flat. Both are drenched in sweat.
Why don’t tennis players wear gloves? Look at the state of Del Potro’s hands here.
current issue of the German #tennismagazin shows my long term project about tennis players hands.#atp #tennis#champions #hasenkopftennis pic.twitter.com/oAsSbFejYo
— Juergen Hasenkopf (@HasenkopfTennis) July 28, 2017
And with that, I’ll hand back to Simon. Cheers!
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Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 2-2 Del Potro At 15-15, Del Potro is once again dominating the rally, but a misjudgement means Isner’s forehand finds the baseline, then a wayward Del Potro forehand goes long. Two break points for Isner, his first of the match! With Del Potro consistently missing his first serve, Isner squanders the first into the net with a backhand, then can’t recover from another bomb serve out wide. Deuce, but the Argentinian has found his rhythm, and holds serve after twice coming to the net.
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Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 2-1 Del Potro* Isner responds in kind. The rallies last a little longer with on the American’s serve, but it’s the same effect. An easy hold – Isner definitely seems to have perked up since the second set, where he suddenly looked very flat. If this does go to a fifth set, will likely be a test of endurance as much anything else.
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Third set: Isner* 7-6, 3-6, 1-1 Del Potro The Argentinian holds to love. Isner simply can’t return Del Potro’s serve with any conviction, and from there Del Potro’s forehand pummels the American to submission.
Third set: Isner 7-6, 3-6, 1-0 Del Potro* Despite the cutest of drop shots, Isner finds himself break point down after a couple of lazy backhands into the net. But he finds the line with a crushing forehand to get to deuce and aces the next point before closing it out with another looping serve out wide. Good scrambling from Isner there, although he’s yet to even get one break point on Del Potro’s serve.
Nearly eight minutes since set point, and the players are back on court. Del Potro re-emerges visibly perturbed with an official, although it’s not clear why. Perhaps Isner snuck back to the locker room mid-match? Novak Djokovic did that yesterday when he was struggling with the heat.
While we wait for the players to re-emerge from their air-conditioned dressing rooms, I have a question: if you could be a line judge for this match (down the T), would you be? You have to balance all the pressure, scrutiny and jeopardy of being hit on the nose by a 140mph howitzer by the fact that you have the best seat in the house. I would, but only because it appeals to my narcissism.
Answers to michael.butler@theguardian.com or @michaelbutler18, if you will.
Hello world, Michael Butler here, just jumping in for a short while as Simon gets a break. Just the one unforced error for Del Potro in that last set, which is remarkable considering how much he is going for his shots: the average (AVERAGE) mph of his forehand is a frankly ridiculous 81mph.
Del Potro levels the match at a set apiece!
Second set: Isner 7-6, 3-6 Del Potro* Del Potro holds to love, and takes the second set. Both players head off the court to change their clothes/recharge their spirit.
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Second set: Isner* 7-6, 3-5 Del Potro Isner holds to 30. He does look knackered, but he could just be saving himself for set three. Unless, that is, he can conjure a break now …
Second set: Isner 7-6, 2-5 Del Potro* Del Potro holds to 15. In this second set his first serve percentage is 79% – up from 54% in set one (his average first serve speed is 5mph down at 116mph) – and he has won 87% of those points. He finishes this game with an ace, one that Isner just doesn’t bother to try to reach.
Second set: Isner* 7-6, 2-4 Del Potro Given the temperatures, and the amount of time he’s already spent on court in this tournament – plus his seniority – Isner seems less likely to prevail in a lengthy match. Perhaps the fatigue is already creeping up on him. He holds here, to 30, winning the game with his 14th ace of the match.
Second set: Isner 7-6, 1-4 Del Potro* Del Potro holds to love, and appears well on his way to levelling the match.
Second set: Isner* 7-6, 1-3 Del Potro Isner has a massive lead in unforced errors – 20-5 over the match, 8-1 this set – and a couple of them land him in trouble at 0-30. There’s no magic ace to rescue him this time, and instead Del Potro’s excellent return presents him with three set points. Isner saves one with a fine forehand down the line, but another unforced error and we have a break of serve!
Second set: Isner 7-6, 1-2 Del Potro* Del Potro holds to 15 again, clipping another unreturnable forehand off his ankles in the process. After the game he has an argument with the umpire and then the referee over his ability to change his shorts, which are irritating him somehow. He isn’t allowed to do so, but will presumably sneak just off court to do so at the next changeover.
Second set: Isner* 7-6, 1-1 Del Potro At 15-15 Isner has an easy forehand from midcourt, but he hits it straight to Del Potro, and loses the point. He deals with the micro-crisis in the most obvious way – by hitting a vicious ace out wide. Two overhit backhands later he’s got another one on his hands, a break point now, and he conjures an identical solution. This must be spectacularly disheartening for an opponent, and Isner then concludes the game with an ace down the middle, just to keep his opponent on his toes.
Second set: Isner 7-6, 0-1 Del Potro* One fine winner from Isner, but Del Potro’s always in control and holds to 15. Here’s Kevin Mitchell on Sloane Stephens’ defeat:
John Isner wins the first set 7-6!
First set: Isner 7-6 Del Potro At 1-0 Isner hits two fine forehands to work a fine position in the rally, but then he sends a backhand wide to waste the chance. So instead we have to wait until the seventh point for a mini-break, as Isner repeatedly pokes Del Potro’s backhand and the Argentinian eventually sends one wide. And that’s what does it: an ace and an unreturnable serve yields three set points. Del Potro saves the first two on his own serve, but then Isner serves one, and he slams it down the middle for an ace. It’s not even close to the T, and Del Potro still can’t get anywhere near it.
First set: Isner 6-6 Del Potro* Thrown by the depth of an Isner backhand, Del Potro bottom-edges the ball into the ground for 40-30. Isner then goes for a risky down-the-line backhand, misses, and the first set will – get this – be decided by a tie break!
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First set: Isner* 6-5 Del Potro A break point! An actual break point! At 30-40 Isner is half an inch away from an ace, but a kick serve and wrongfooting, cross-court forehand saves the day anyway, and then a forehand drop-shot helps him take the game.
First set: Isner 5-5 Del Potro* At 0-15 and second serve, there’s a chink of light for Isner. But Del Potro puts some kick on his delivery, and Isner has no answer, to that or for the remainder of the game.
First set: Isner* 5-4 Del Potro Isner hits a backhand wide and Del Potro leads 0-15, the closest we’ve come to a break of serve since the opening game of the match. Then, after a second foot fault call of the match against Isner, Del Potro hits an excellent backhand winner. 15-30. A couple of aces later, Isner’s sitting down, game comfortably held.
First set: Isner 4-4 Del Potro* Del Potro sends a forehand into the tape at the top of the net. This is very much the highlight of the game for Isner, who loses it to 15.
First set: Isner* 4-3 Del Potro What a shot! The shot of the match so far, and predictably it’s a Del Potro forehand. Pushed out wide by a fine forehand from Isner he slams it down the line at 102mph. Then the American nets a forehand and it’s 30-30! Isner takes the next two points and the game.
First set: Isner 3-3 Del Potro* A break! Kind of! Isner wins a point against serve with a backhand of impeccable depth. Del Potro holds to 15, clipping a lovely forehand off his ankles to win the game.
First set: Isner* 3-2 Del Potro There’s another fantastic point-winning volley from Isner as a third successive game goes by without anyone winning so much as a point against serve.
First set: Isner 2-2 Del Potro* Del Potro also holds to love, and proves he doesn’t always need a big serve by hitting a powder-puff one to start the final point, eventually won by a succession of superlative, powerful forehands.
First set: Isner* 2-1 Del Potro Isner holds to love, ending the game with – yes – an ace.
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First set: Isner 1-1 Del Potro* Isner picks Del Potro’s second serve, runs round it and slams a forehand across court, and later hits a fine backhand volley to win another point. They were the only ones he did win, mind, and Del Potro also wins his first service game with an ace.
First set: Isner* 1-0 Del Potro We were led to expect a torrent of aces. What we get is, well, a torrent of aces, but first of all a double fault. A fine return helps Del Potro to 0-30 and a point later he hits a low backhand passing shot down the line which really ought to have won him the point, only for Isner to conjure a remarkable winning half-volley. From there he takes the game, ending it with a 136mph ace, and a 124mph second-serve ace.
John Isner will serve. Action imminent.
Del Potro and Isner are on court and preparing for the first men’s singles quarter-final.
That was a compelling match, without ever threatening to tip into greatnes. Sevastova was excellent, with her drop shots particularly exceptional, but as much as anything else Stephens really seemed to struggle with the sunshine and the heat.
The winner speaks:
I think it was very physical today. It’s tough to play, so hot in here. The first set was so important. I showed some nerves at the end but it’s normal. I played not so good in Montreal, she played amazing. I knew it would be a different match today. Just stick to my gameplan, move well and take my chances.
When the shade was there it was so hot here and amazing there. The last games, it was good that I played in the shade. The sun was not comfortable and it was hot.
Will she be watching the match between Serena Williams and Karolina Pliskova?
I’m going to watch the match. I’m a fan of tennis, I enjoy the night matches here. I’m going to enjoy, lie on my bed and watch the match.
Sloane Stephens' defence of the US Open title is over!
Second set: Sevastova* 6-2, 6-3 Stephens Aided by some fresh balls, this looks set to be one of the briefest games of the match as Sevastova streaks to a 40-0 lead. Liberated by her dismal position Stephens takes control of the next point, blasting her opponent out of it, and a poor backhand later it’s 30-40 and getting a bit wobbly. But it’s only a brief respite; Stephens nets a backhand, and it’s all over! Anastasija Sevastova is in a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time!
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Second set: Sevastova 6-2, 5-3 Stephens* At 15-0 Stephens hits an excellently angled forehand across court for a clean winner. Sevastova challenges, but in vain. The crowd whoops and hollers its approval. Then she takes control of the next point as well, only to send an apparently straightforward volley into the net. The American wins the next point, but at 40-15 Sevastova hits an excellent backhand volley, and then two unforced errors turn an apparently straightforward service game into a potential break. The Latvian fractionally overhits a forehand to miss that opportunity, but a couple of deuces later drop-shots her way to another. Stephens misses her first serve – this is key; her win percentage on second serve in this set is stuck at a miserable zero – and another fine drop-shot later she’s serving for the match!
Twelve of the 15 games played so far have been won by the player in the shade. There isn’t much of it left, but Sevastova is about to step into it.
Second set: Sevastova* 6-2, 4-3 Stephens Sevastova wobbled her way through the previous game, but with Stephens serving it didn’t matter a great deal. It continues here, though, and more destructively. Perhaps distracted by thoughts of victory she plays as if only half-concentrating, and is broken to love.
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Second set: Sevastova 6-2, 4-2 Stephens* Sevastova slices a backhand into the net, miscues a forehand wide and is forced into a weak, high backhand that Stephens slaps away for a winner. A long forehand then forces Sevastova into another weak backhand, which Stephens gobbles up. A foothold for the defending champion.
Second set: Sevastova* 6-2, 4-1 Stephens At 30-0 Sevastova tries another backhand drop shot. This one is literally perfect. It’s just beautiful, phenomenal, and Stephens has no chance whatsoever of getting to it. At 40-0 Stephens tries to hammer a forehand down the line and misses.
Second set: Sevastova 6-2, 3-1 Stephens* Stephens looks to finally have figured out the Sevastova drop shot. The Latvian tries another in the first point of the game, and Stephens is on it in a flash, chasing it down with ease before thumping a crosscourt forehand winner. If she could force that weapon out of Sevastova’s game, the match could swiftly take on a different complexion. But then the Latvian wins the next three points anyway. Stephens saves one break point with a vicious forehand, but then skews a backhand wide. Another break!
Second set: Sevastova* 6-2, 2-1 Stephens At 0-15 Sevastova hits an excellent forehand, but from well wide of court Stephens hoists up a fine defensive shot. Sevastova waits for it to bounce, waits a bit longer for it to drop back down, and then smashes into the net. From 0-30 she fights back to parity, but Stephens hits an excellent forehand and at 30-40 the American just keeps up the pressure until Sevastova wilts and sends a backhand wide. Instant break back!
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Second set: Sevastova 6-2, 2-0 Stephens* Two unforced errors leave Stephens staring down the barrel of a 0-30 scoreline, and then a first-class return brings three break points. Sevastova nets a backhand down the line, but then Stephens comes up with another unforced error, powering a forehand into the net, and the champion is a set and a break down!
Second set: Sevastova* 6-2, 1-0 Stephens Stephens is in a dark place at the moment. As Sevastova moves 30-0 up she drops onto her haunches, bewildered. Sevastova promptly hits her second ace of the game, but from 40-0 the game changes. Stephens wins a couple of points, and then chases down another drop-shot, sending her return across court, off the top of the net and over for a winner. From deuce though Sevastova roars back, winning the next two points and taking the game with a marvellous passing crosscourt backhand.
Anastasija Sevastova wins the first set 6-2!
First set: Sevastova 6-2 Stephens* Stephens’ first double fault is a poor way to start the game, and an unforced error and two fine winners from Sevastova later the set is over. Including the last point of the set, Stephens won only one of five points on her second serve, which is an issue. She has had seven break points without taking any – Sevastova only had two, and took them both.
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First set: Sevastova* 5-2 Stephens The body language from both players is pretty ugly at times. Sevastova moves to 40-15 with a backhand winner and after she fails to chase it down Stephens’ shoulders slump visibly, and the Latvian bosses the next point to take the game. Happily she ends it with a smile and a fist-pump, which is definitely an improvement.
First set: Sevastova 4-2 Stephens* At 15-30 Stephens wins a crucial point with a power volley into a gaping court, and from there she holds with ease. Sevastova continues to barrage her box with wild whingeing.
First set: Sevastova* 4-1 Stephens At no point in this game does Sevastova seem happy about life, unexpectedly given that she was 3-1 up at the start of it. Before the start and between each point she mutters, harumphs and chunters grumpily and the negativity seems to impact her performance. Stephens duly has a couple of break points, the second saved by another drop-shot/lob combo, though Stephens would surely have put away her smash but for that pesky sunshine. A double fault gifts her a third go, which she again fails to take, and from there Sevastova snaffles the game, winning it courtesy of another phenomenal drop shot, this time a forehand.
First set: Sevastova 3-1 Stephens* Break! Sevastova streaks to a 15-40 lead and then conjures a low, sliced forehand return that forces Stephens to run forward and, stretching, send the ball into the net.
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Sevastova hit a serve on her first game point that was initially given in, whereupon a load of spectators were allowed in to find their seats. Stephens however challenged successfully, and the game was held up for a bit while people took their seats. At the changeover Sevastova duly gives the umpire a bit of a blasting for this misjudgement.
First set: Sevastova* 2-1 Stephens Sevastova is the first to serve from the sunny side of the court, with the pesky celestial orb clearly bothering her as she tries to do so. She duly starts the game pretty miserably, and Stephens has four break points. The first is lost when she inexplicably nets a forehand, the second when Sevastova hits an unstoppable drop-shot/lob combination, and the third, set up by a brilliant backhand winner, and also the fourth when Stephens misjudges the flight of the ball as it crosses from sun to shade and fluffs her return. Then the Latvian has a couple of game points, both excellently saved by Stephens after excellent rallies, before she finally takes the game as the American, approaching the net, overhits a forehand.
First set: Sevastova 1-1 Stephens* Sevastova tries another one of those backhand drop-shots here, but this one lands wide. It’s one of a couple of unforced errors from the Latvian as Stephens holds to love.
First set: Sevastova* 1-0 Stephens Stephens starts the match bathed in sunlight and clad in sunny orange, while Sevastova is in the shade, troublingly dark in the TV pictures, and wearing – what is it? Dirty peach? Anyway, she’s not left in the shade when the ball is in play, and at 30-30 she hits an absolutely wonderful backhand drop-shot, the ball spinning wildly and turning 90 degrees after it hits the court, to earn game point, which she takes.
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The warm-ups are done, and Sevastova will serve.
The players are on court!
BONG! It’s gone 11am in New York, and we can thus expect quarter-final action very soon indeed!
Action! Um, of sorts! Del Potro is on Arthur Ashe at the moment, doing a bit of warming up. Temperatures in New York are forecast to his 34C today, so it shouldn’t take long.
Hello world!
So it’s quarter-final time, and the action kicks off with Sloane Stephens against the 28-year-old Latvian Anastasija Sevastova, who is in the last eight for the third year in a row but has yet to get past the second round of any other Grand Slam. The pair have met three times before, sharing the spoils in two close matches last year before Stephens won a one-sided Canadian Open quarter-final a month ago.
Then it’s 6ft 6in Juan Martín del Potro against 6ft 10in John Isner, an encounter the American welcomed less than wholeheartedly as “a matchup that I sort of enjoy”. Their routes to this stage have been wildly contrasting: Delpo is yet to drop a set; Isner’s last four matches have lasted at least three hours (in the last three rounds he has been on court for precisely three hours and 11 minutes longer than his Argentinian opponent, who has only once had to play for longer than two hours and five minutes).
The evening (time-zone dependent) fun consists of Serena Williams v Karolina Pliskova and Rafael Nadal v Dominic Thiem, but we can probably put off getting excited about those ones until a little later.
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