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Rafael Nadal[/caption]
New York, Sep. 5 (IANS): Three-time champion Rafael Nadal made his way into the semifinal of the US Open after registering a straight-set victory over Argentine Diego Schwartzman at the Flushing Meadows on Thursday.
No. 2 seed Nadal was made to work hard on an excessively humid day, as he overcame a stiff challenge from Schwartzman in the first two sets and eventually registered a 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory to advance to the semifinal of the US Open for the eighth time.
The Spaniard earned double-break leads in each of the first two sets, but was unable to hang onto those on either occasion.
However, when it mattered the most, Nadal maintained the more consistent level and scripted victory in two hours and 47 minutes.
On Saturday, The 33-year-old will play Italian Matteo Berrettini, who had never made a Slam quarterfinal before this tournament. Berrettini beat Frenchman Gael Monfils in an epic five-setter earlier in the day.
In the other semifinal, Grigor Dimitrov will take on in-form fifth seed Daniil Medvedev. Medvedev, 23, defeated Stan Wawrinka in four sets to become the youngest men's semifinalist at the US Open since 2010.
Andreescu outlasts Mertens to reach US Open semifinal
Canadian teenager Bianca Andreescu pulled off a stirring comeback to reach her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final, overcoming Elise Mertens in the quarter-final clash in her US Open debut.
No. 15 seed Andreescu overcame an error-strewn first set to come back from behind and defeat Mertens, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in two hours on Wednesday evening at the Flushing Meadows.
The Canadian teenager finished the match with 40 winners, outnumbering her 33 unforced errors.
"This is honestly so crazy," said Andreescu after the match. "What I've accomplished this year, I'm honestly speechless. I need someone to pinch me right now."
Andreescu will now face No. 13 seed Belinda Bencic of Switzerland in the final four, with the winner to contest her first-ever Grand Slam final. Twenty two-year-old Bencic booked her spot in the semifinals with a straight-set victory over Donna Vekic of Croatia.
