US Open 2017: Rafael Nadal destroy Andrey Rublev to reach semi-finals
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ByEurosport
Updated 07/09/2017 at 04:26 GMT
Rafael Nadal cruised into the US Open last four after a 6-1 6-2 6-2 win over Russian teenager Andrey Rublev.
Rafael Nadal celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
The unseeded youngster set up the tie against Nadal in style, dropping only a single set in his journey to the last-eight encounter with the tournament’s top seed.
Rublev had become the youngest US Open quarter-finalist since Andy Roddick in 2001 with a superb effort, but his inexperience against the world number one showed throughout a tie that lasted just one hour and 37 minutes.
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Highlights: Nadal obliterates Rublev in 97 minutes
"I knew a great new generation coming and Andrey is one of these players that have a great future and I wish him all the best," said Nadal.
"It was a good match and obviously it was Andrey's first quarter-finals and of course he played with some more mistakes than usual but for me it was an important victory winning the last two matches in straight sets."
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Nadal, still stinging from a third-round upset by 18-year-old Canadian Denis Shapovalov in Montreal in August and with a spot in the last four on the line, was fully focused on the task at hand.
The two-times US Open champion dominated all three sets thanks to a mix of skill, experience and composure that contrasted with the young Russian’s raw emotion and visible frustration.
The first set was over in just 23 minutes, with the tournament favourite barely breaking a sweat.
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Woman goes crazy after catching Nadal’s ball
Rublev took an unexpected lead in the second set, but Nadal constantly took advantage of the naivety in the teenager’s play as he superbly fought back to clinch a 6-2 set win.
A relentless Nadal broke to open the third and when Rublev double faulted to hand him yet another break at 4-1, the dejected Russian simply bent over and let his racquet drop.
The 19-year-old showed glimpses of brilliance in the match, but the Spaniard’s class and dominance continued as he clinched the third set 6-2.
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Rafael Nadal - Andrey Rublev - US Open 2017
Image credit: Getty Images
Nadal will now wait for the winner of the last quarter-final to see whether he will face either Juan Martin del Potro in the final four.
The towering Argentine beat Roger Federer in four sets to deny a landmark first meeting between the Swiss and Nadal at Flushing Meadows.
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Eurosport experts laud ‘major masterclass’ from Nadal
With additional reporting from Reuters
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