'Absolutely insane': Tennis fans melt down over 'crazy' US Open drama
Matteo Berrettini has become the first Italian man to reach the US Open semi-finals in 42 years.
Berrettini, the 24th seed, matched Corrado Barazzutti's run to the last four in 1977 after outlasting 13th-seeded Frenchman Gael Monfils 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) in three hours and 57 minutes.
He will meet the winner of a later match between Spanish three-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal and Argentina's Diego Schwartzman for a place in Sunday's final at Flushing Meadows.
The 23-year-old Berrettini joined Barazzutti, 1976 Roland Garros champion Adriano Panatta and Marco Cecchinato as just the fourth Italian to advance to a men's grand slam semi-final in singles.
"I'm really happy, I don't what know to say," said Berrettini, who blew a 5-2 lead in the final set and four match points before finally seeing off Monfils in a thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
"Right now I don't remember any points, just the match point.
"I remember also the double fault (on match point at 5-3). I have to be honest what a great fight. I would like to say congrats to Gael.
"I think when I was playing it was one of the best matches I ever saw. I was playing but I was watching also."
Fans and pundits were in disbelief over the crazy nature of the match.
That Berrettini/Monfrils match was CRAZY! #USOpen
— Anee Raulerson (@aneepatrice) September 4, 2019
Best fan reaction to represent Berrettini and Monfils’ drama #usopen pic.twitter.com/OpXlMoRGIi
— Andrew Jerell Jones (@sluggahjells) September 4, 2019
Matteo Berrettini recovers after double faulting on match point to beat Gael Monfils 3-6 6-3 6-2 3-6 7-6(4) and reach his first slam semi.
Crazy, crazy final set. No reason why Berrettini shouldn’t have collapsed after.— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 4, 2019
Absolute epic stuff from these two warriors - massive congrats and respect to both players for such an incredible match #Monfils #Berrettini #USOpen 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 https://t.co/MlnGrSUx0L
— John Whalley (@John_Whalley) September 4, 2019
MATTEO #BERRETTINI REACHES FIRST GRAND SLAM SEMI-FINAL!
An incredible conclusion to a dramatic match, as Matteo #Berrettini converts his fifth match point to beat Gael #Monfils 3-6 6-2 6-3 3-6 7-6 to reach the #USOpen semi-finals. pic.twitter.com/DPfTgJLzCt— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 4, 2019
Five match points, three hours and 57 minutes in the New York heat. Young Matteo Berrettini celebrates his 1st Grand Slam semifinal with a stagger, a fall to the court and a howl of release and joy and a whole bunch of other stuff. Bravissimo but spare a long thought for Monfils
— Christopher Clarey (@christophclarey) September 4, 2019
BERRETTINI!!!! absolutely insane match, so much drama, high quality from both. Berrettini has one hell of a game and we will see a lot more of him.
— Sports Guy (@_TheRacingMan) September 4, 2019
Monfils was hoping to join his girlfriend Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals.
Bencic makes women’s semis
Belinda Bencic has dreamed of winning grand slams and being world No.1 ever since her parents begged Martina Hingis's mother to coach her at four years of age.
Now the former child prodigy is two wins away from becoming the first Swiss woman since Hingis 20 years ago to snare a major singles crown after continuing her magical US Open run in New York.
Bencic backed up her stunning fourth-round elimination of world No.1 Naomi Osaka with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 quarter-final triumph over good friend Donna Vekic on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old's breakthrough is all the more satisfying after Bencic plummeted from seventh in the world to out of the top 300 in 2017 following wrist surgery.
"I was dreaming, of course, about this day coming, but you never know what's going to happen," she said.
"You're not thinking about it. You're just right in the moment. Either you're practising or focusing on your match.
"I worked hard for this. It's not like I never imagined I could do this. Still, like, I stayed in the moment. Yeah, very nice feeling."
The 12th seed is Switzerland's last hope in the singles following the quarter-final exits on Tuesday of men's heavyweights Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.
"This is not a good thing. I'm not happy about this actually," Bencic said.
"Yeah, I'm kind of surprised, like I think everyone is. It would be really nice if the boys could also make it to semi-finals. But I'm happy I can kind of do it for them and don't let them down."
with AAP