'Absolutely incredible': Rafael Nadal stuns US Open with 'insane' act
US Open fans have been treated to an exhibition of never-say-die brilliance from Rafael Nadal, during his 7-6 6-4 6-1 semi-final win against Matteo Berrettini.
The number two seed was considered a heavy favourite against the World No.24, whose impressive run at the tournament has taken the tennis world by storm.
However, Nadal found himself in deep trouble after a tense opening set went to a tiebreak.
CAREER FIRST: Russian snaps 19-year US Open drought in superb win
The 18-time grand slam champion was in the unfamiliar position of being 0-4 down, with Berrettini setting up a glorious opportunity to strike first blood.
But Nadal's fighting qualities came to the fore in an extraordinary turnaround that left his Italian opponent and viewers stunned.
Berrettini earned two set points after going 6-4 up but Nadal pressured his opponent into errors, before expertly capitalising.
The Italian first sent a backhand volley into the net, before doing likewise with a nervy drop shot.
Nadal's defensive prowess saw the Italian make two more unforced errors before the Spaniard completed the epic comeback to send fans wild.
What a comeback nadal to lead the tiebreak. He was 4-0 down at some point 💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽
— Wonder-Woman (@OyeenMor) September 7, 2019
Insane tiebreak from Nadal down 4-0.
— JFC 🏀🎾 (@JFCPicks) September 7, 2019
Dude comes back after down 4-0 in the opening tiebreak. Nadal is a FIGHTER. pic.twitter.com/QutdOzWGnD
— Geoff Scales (@geofftscales) September 7, 2019
#NowWatching #USOpen2019
What Rafael Nadal did in the tiebreak of the first set is absolutely incredible 🔥🔥!!
Well done Berrettini, but it's really extremely hard to beat Nadal with his current form.— KDB 1️⃣7️⃣ 🇩🇪🇧🇪🇳🇱 🎾 🏓 🎶 (@MoatazMOOC) September 7, 2019
aaaaand Berrettini blows his tiebreak lead to lose the first set. He fell into Nadal's trap of trying to play like him, it felt like, late there in that tiebreak. https://t.co/kKgzVCBEL0
— Jill Martin (@ByJillMartin) September 7, 2019
down 4-0 in the tiebreak. the great escape. #nadal #Berrettini #USOpen
— Cedric Tillman (@cedrictillman) September 7, 2019
Berrettini tried his best to stick with Nadal in the second set but the Spaniard capitalised on a break to see it out 6-4 and take an ominous advantage in the match.
Things looked grim for Berrettini when Nadal sealed two breaks to jump out to a 4-1 lead in the third set.
The 33-year-old comfortably held serve before making it a hat-trick of breaks to ruthlessly seal a straight sets win.
Medvedev awaits in final
Nadal will play Daniil Medvedev in the final after the Russian fifth seed defeated Bulgaria's 78th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-3.
Somewhat of a pantomime villain after an obscene gesture to the crowd earlier in the tournament, Medvedev snapped a 19-year drought after becoming the first Russian man to qualify for a US Open final since Marat Safin in 2000.
"Finally I'm here after three sets," Medvedev said.
"I'm just happy to be in the final."
Medvedev is the first Russian in a Grand Slam final since Marat Safin won the 2005 Australian Open title and the first Russian to reach the US Open final since Safin won the 2000 crown.
At 23, Medvedev is just the third men's Grand Slam finalist born in the 1990s after Canada's Milos Raonic and Austria's Dominic Thiem. He could become the first '90s-born Slam winner.
Medvedev is only the third Open Era player to reach finals in Washington, Canada, Cincinnati and the US Open in the same year after Ivan Lendl in 1982 and Andre Agassi in 1995.
With agencies